This is the end, my beautiful friend

A new year is approaching increasingly rapidly, so I figured I'd post one last post this year. We could call it "2008: An Epilogue". Or we could call it nothing.

Either way, I find it fascinating that we celebrate the end of a year or the beginning of another, whichever you fancy (I guess this is one of those half-full/half-empty debates), because what have we actually done or achieved? Not died for a year. It's the same with birthdays. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of celebrating things, no matter how mundane or weird they might be, I just find the reasons for our celebrations fascinating. Maybe its got something to do with the whole 'fresh-start' aspect of an oncoming new year, people seem to have a tendency to distance themselves from their (bad) pasts with imaginary boundaries. I include myself in that category.


But so, what did 2008 bring with it? An economic crisis of huge proportions, an inspiring election, continued wars that we felt bad about but did nothing to stop, the best Batman movie so far (this was a huge deal to me), Spain winning the European Championship in football (equally awesome). And on a more personal note - going to IDFA in Amsterdam, and subsequently becoming inspired; working on my own movie that I love; making a bunch of amazing new friends; getting a job I absolutely love, and keeping it; buying a green and gorgeous typewriter named RITA.

So all in all, it's been a pretty good year. It's had its ups and its downs, definitely, but that's life and life is great. It doesn't matter if you've been sad or had a bad year, at least you've been alive and living. This is worth remembering (I have to remind myself as well from time to time).

And what should we expect of 2009? I know I feel fantastic about going to the new year, I feel inspired in many ways - to make my movie and 'Baby Steps' the project I think I've mentioned and which you'll hear more of in the future. I'm gonna start taking Dutch and Spanish lessons. So it seems like this could be a good year for me, nothing wrong with being optimistic. And what about more globally? I hope Obama can bring a change to the most powerful nation on earth, I hope the world will wake up to the deterioration of our environment, I hope people might change their consuming habits, I hope some of the wars on this planet might be brought to a peaceful end, I hope people will smile more, I hope people will hug one another more, I hope...

Carpe Diem!

And I said let grief,
be a fallen leaf.

Yuletide

It's been a while, my apologies. Nevertheless, here I am - now let's make the best of it. The christmas holidays are upon us and no matter how you feel about them, you'll most probably get some time off from whatever it is you do normally. So, to keep those quiet moments when you don't feel like staying too quiet occupied I've made a list of good albums to listen to and good movies to watch, some old classics, some fresh exciting new findings, but all fantastic. So without further ado, I give you my absolutely non-definitive list of great music and spectacular films.

Albums
..Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago // The perfect relaxing, meditative, fireplace album. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more complete album for relaxing emotional "me"-time.
..Astrid Swan - Spartan Picnic // A new find for me, fantastic Tori Amos meets PJ Harvey esque creative swash-buckling music.
..The Decemberists - Picaresque // A new-found love for an old acquaintance. Fantastically unique sound.
..The Welcome Wagon - Welcome to the Wagon // Sufjan Stevens produced (!) light, feel-good album. Disregarding the religious fervor of the album, fantastic for friendly relaxing among friendly friends. If you're a fan of Sufjan Stevens you'll love this, his mark on the album is very apparent.
..Girl Talk - Feed the Animals // Very different music from the rest of the list. Canadian "mash-up" artist. Great for parties and dancing. You can download the album for free (if you so choose) from his myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/girltalk

Films
..A Complete History of my Sexual Failures // Great, hilarious, gripping and emotional documentary about the directors quest to find out why all his girlfriends have dumped him. He's very sympathetic and amazingly open and did i mention hilarious? Easy to watch even if you're not a big fan of documentaries.
..Burn After Reading // One word: Brad Pitt.
..Our Daily Bread // Powerful, minimalistic, gruesome documentary about mass food production. A movie everyone should see.
..Zack and Miri make a Porno // If fun is what you want, fun is what you'll get. Kevin Smith and Seth Rogen, need I say more? (another great stoner movie: Pineapple Express)
..In Bruges // A MUST SEE FOR EVERYONE!! Absolutely fantastic movie. A weird, yet very wonderful, mix of genres. Hilarious, dramatic, tense, emotional and with a spot of action, this film has everything. You'll positively love it! I guarantee.


There. That should keep you occupied during the lonely hours of the dark wintery nights. I hope you'll like what you hear and see, I know I love everything on that list.

Go home to your families, turn off your mobile phones, don't turn on the computer and just take it easy over christmas. Enjoy it. Soak it in. And relax.

Merry christmas, hyvää joulua, god jul, joyeux noël, feliz navidad!
And a happy new year! I'll see you in 2009!

Hugsies,
Anton

Ps. Santa Clause is from Lappland (northern Finland). NOT the North Pole, despite what some yanks might tell you.

One more thing...

In the near future im gonna start a website (hopefull), but if my technical expertise isn't sufficient ill just stick with a new blog (probably). On this webblog you'll get to see a weekly episode of a new project I'm starting called "Baby Steps", about my personal efforts to change my lifestyle to one that is more ecologically and economically sustainable. But it's in the planning stages now, so I'll get back to you when I know more.

Credit goes to my friend Nina for the idea. She's a whizkid when it comes to getting shit done. Thank you.

The Return of the Prodigal Son

Im back. Amsterdam is a city in my past. Though an eventful, amazing, crazy, beautiful, fantastic city, I absolutely love it. A curious sidenote: when we were landing in Finland and I saw the lights of Espoo and Helsinki shining beneath me all covered in a pure white blanket of snow, I got a feeling of patriotism in my gut, its hard to explain but it just felt good, I really felt this was home. I guess the place you call home really is a special place, which I believe it is.

Anyway, the trip was fantastic. Saw 18 movies in 5 days and attended many lectures and debates and whathaveyous with the documentary film elite. Was an extremely inspiring trip and I feel rejuvenated, even though we barely had any time to do anything apart from watching movies and attending lectures. But if you are interested in whats going on in the world, IDFA is a must to visit at some point. You get to see the absolute best documentaries in the world, in one of the best cities in the world, not a bad combo if you ask me.

Ill get back to you soon with my recommendations of movies you should see. Until then, keep your head on straight and don't let people tell you what to think.

The Small Things

You know what I enjoy immensely? Sitting on a mat with lots of pillows around you and maybe a blanket or two wrapped loosely over you. A few candles and some warm tea (though preferably glögi at this time of the year). To top it off the company of someone you care aboout. Unfortunately I have yet to experience the previous this winter season.

It's these small moments of tranquility and happiness that I look forward to, but sadly they happen ever so rarely, largely due to my short-comings. However, I'm hoping this will change with a change in my interior design, which I will implement shortly. I'm gonna arrange it so that I have a corner with 10ish pillows and a few bigger "floor" pillows and a low table with my typewriter, with candles all over the place. I shall call it "The Meadow", or perhaps something better that I have yet to think of.

These small moments of joy are what makes life great, at least to me. Good company and a good environment is all you need. But remember those special 'perfect' moments don't come along that often, so if you find yourself thinking "This is perfect, I wish this moment lasted forever", make sure it does. Soak it in, remember it, think of it, take it all in. And later, reminisce over it with your friend(s). But don't let it pass you by. This also means not focusing too much on it either because you will miss it, just let it flow through you and feel life surging through your veins.

Feel.
Feel the moment.
And love life.

Appropriate song: John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - Sufjan Stevens

The city of lights, the life of nights

Amsterdam is calling me again. This friday im off to my favourite European city (after Helsinki obviously) for the fourth time in three years, which is a lot for me since I dont get to travel that much normally. A change of pace is always welcome and this is going to be the ultimate escapist fantasy. Which I am looking forward to very much. And why is it an escapists wet-dream? Well let me illustrate with a short list:

1) Amsterdam is Amsterdam. Enough said.

2) We're attending the world's biggest documentary film festival, which means I'll see at least 3 movies per day for five days.

3) Scrubs rocks.

Bring it on Amsterdam, I can take it.

I envy people with awesome skills.

Amazingly fantastic. And I couldn't agree more, John Williams has brought us some of the most powerful and beautiful scores and themes of all movie history. Thank you John.

As only the Gubernator can...

Top 5 SitComs

1. Seinfeld
2. Seinfeld
3. Friends
4. Frasier
5. I love Lucy

9,99 €

"500 billion dollars are used on advertising per year in the world.
According to the UN, 10% of this could reduce famine with 50%."

Those were the last words in the film '99 francs' (freely translated by me since the actual text was in french). And if you haven't seen this movie yet, go see it. Now. It is a fantastic movie about the advertising industry, modern french cinema at its best (though its not like I'm an expert on french cinema, modern or otherwise), or at least one of the best french movies I have seen in a while. Stylistically engaging and politically poignant (I'm starting to sound like a pretentious movie critic aren't I?). That's the phrasing that popped into my head, perhaps I've been reading too many reviews. Anyway, a feel good political movie, that leaves you with a smile on your face and an urge to revolt in your heart, a rare combination I dare say. However, quite a wonderful one at that.

I'll leave you with a quote I read somewhere - "Don't just do something. Stand there."

Top 5 Narrative Voices

1. 'The Narrator' - Fight Club, Edward Norton
2. Dr. John "J.D." Dorian - Scrubs, Zach Braff
3. Harry Lockhart - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Robert Downey Jr.
4. Rob Gordon - High Fidelity, John Cusack
5. Lester Burnham - American Beauty, Kevin Spacey

The Caped Crusader

Batman is god. Just thought id share.

Ps. I wish I was batman.

A slice of life

This week I experienced life as I always hoped it would be. As I had imagined it to be at its best, but always assumed that it only worked in movies. And this moment, which was only a few hours long, was truly a perfect piece of living.

I went to see a movie during the Rakkautta & Anarkiaa film festival on Tuesday evening. 'The Wackness' if you must ask, wonderful movie if you must ask again. The movie was showing at eleven in the evening at Café Engel, a small quaint café near one of Helsinkis great buildings - Tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral). The movie was shown on a small canvas with a rattling and whirring projector in the cafés picturesque inner courtyard. Complete with intricate light fixtures, small narrow staircases and small round parisian coffee tables. A wine shack was nearby to provide refreshements.

As the projector crackled to life, me and my friend Axel sat down at a table, set down our glasses of red wine and found ourselves some thick woolly blankets to shield us from the crisp late summer night. Sitting there watching this wonderful movie with a glass of red wine in front of me, in this utterly picturesque setting I couldn't help but thinking that I was in a movie. That these moments and places only existed in the fictional world. How wrong I have been.

This moment is what life is supposed to be. To me at least. And the evening was made complete with a midnight photography session wandering the steps of the church and my lovely city, listening to The Shins. All this made for a truly wonderful night on the town, and a moment I shan't forget.

Midnight Lights

I went for a walk. It was twelve at night. The city is very beautiful at this time of the day. And peaceful, though it was a Sunday night after all. I had my brothers camera with me. And some music. Never forget the music. Strolling around for the better part of an hour I took some pictures and listened to music. Sat by the harbour and soaked in the night. It was lovely if you were wondering.

I live next to Sweden. Which makes me an expert on Norwegian fjords.

I haven't been too political with my blog so far, but now I couldn't help myself.

Now you're all probably well aware of the ongoing race for the most powerful position in the world, namely the US presidency, probably even more so than me (getting most of my news coverage from The Daily Show and the Colbert Report). So you have undoubtedly heard the claims from McCain & Co regarding Sarah Palins credentials in foreign diplomacy; about how she has the experience and know-how, when it comes to foreign politics, to run the most powerful country in the world, because she lives (or has lived) close to Russia.

I'm going to assume you see what's wrong with this argument for the sake of my sanity. But how the fuck can any self-respecting political party *seriously* claim, in front of the entire world, that living close to Russia (the far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula mind you, which has a population density of less than 1 person per square km) somehow makes her proficient at coping with the increasingly complex foreign relations of our world. I'm not saying I know much about American foreign relations, but then again I *do* live next to Russia as well, and Sweden and Estonia for that matter, so I guess I'm three times the foregin expert of Sarah Palin. Awesome.

But you can't accuse the Republicans of not having balls, because releasing a statement as ludicrously ridiculous as that really does take some cojones. Maybe I've just heard the statement out of context or something, because the Republicans can't be that ridiculous now can they?

I wish I didn't sleep so late.

Do we have a choice? The never-ending philosophical question. Free will, free choice. I believe we do. But I wish I could believe in fate, that everything happened for a reason. I understand people who do. It would make life a lot easier, believing everything happened for a reason and that your choices had nothing to do with it. All the bad choices you make that cause pain and suffering for yourself and others would just be ways the world is teaching you. And that it all had some higher purpose, I guess this is what religion is all about, the comfort factor. Believing that everything happens for a reason would make one feel a lot more comfortable with all the bad things that happen in life, and believing that there is some ultimate goal/aim that your life is racing towards would really simplify things. Or so it seems to me. I would love to be a believer, but alas I am not. In fate, a higher power, anything to comfort oneself during the bad times. Well, that's what friends are for.

So I guess to me my friends are the higher power, the reason to do good, to be good, to strive to be better, the comfort when everything isn't going your way, the company when everything *is* going your way. I love you. Thank you.

"I wish that I believed in fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late." -Matt Berninger

The World is a Wonderful place.

I realise it often (although not often enough), but I dont say it often enough: the world is a wonderful place. Truly an amazing and diverse place full of challenges and countless rewards. The Earth as a planet and life as.. well life, are both unimaginably fantastic. The amount of small (and big) things that can put a smile on ones face are truly so numerous that it just makes me want to smile. There! Another one!

I love the intricacy of leaves (on trees), the complexity of the weather systems, the sun, sand, large rocks, a baby's smile, an elderly couple holding hands (one of the most beautiful things in the world [makes me sound like an agist, but i just think its beautiful]), water, waves, seas, lakes, oceans, water in every form, shape and colour, love, smiling for no reason, benches, balloons, a hug, a gentle touch on ones arm.

A bench. An ocean. A sunset. The girl. A hand.

Zach Braff is god.

A drifting view of the world.

I was riding the train to work today and i did the same thing i always do when traveling on rails - i stared out the window and listened to my music. And i realised that i find this extremely calming and wonderful. Somehow the passing scenery playing to an awesome soundtrack makes me forget all the troubles of the world and just ooze in the moment. But I wonder why this is? I have no answer to that, all I know is that its a feeling i enjoy immensly. And its not constricted to one feeling, depending on the music flooding your ears the mood can range from euphoric to mellow to outright melancholic.

Sitting in a train listening to really good music, seeing glimpses of peoples lives as you pass them by does something to me. It makes me realise just how great the world we live in is. I don't know how, but seeing all those people going about their business - children playing in the park, an elderly woman pushing her bike up a hill or a couple walking hand in hand, all these moments make me feel confident that the world is a good place after all.

Try it. Jump on a train, any train. Put some good music on and just watch the scenery and the lives of the people around drift gently past you.

Claire, the aptly named ghost.

"Boo!", shouted the friendly ghost Claire,
without ever really meaning to scare.

The results are in:

i decided to cut the poll short, why? because i can. so from now on my blog will be known as "Looking for Astronauts", the name that won the poll with 8 votes to 7. the fact that my vote was the swing vote makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like a benevolent dictator.

thank you for your votes and look forward to a bright future in search of astronauts with me.

A New Name.

so to freshen up my blog even more, and to really start things over ive decided to change the name of it. i have a few thoughts and i would like you to vote for your favourite. and then i will change the name of my blog according to popular vote. like the Americans do, with the whole democracy thing.

so please, quickly answer the poll on the right, and well take it from there.

thank you,
anton

ps. check out "!!! - A New Name", awesome song...

Mr. November

hi everyone, its been a while. and i apologise.

it seems like i have to do this whole makeover thing (as the more keen of you have noticed, the blog has a distinctly new look to it) every once in a while to kickstart my blogging again. i even cut my hair today. seems like this is a day of fresh starts. i also recently started school again after my summer vacation, a welcome change if i may say so, and i dont mind if i do. ive started planning my quasi-feature documentary (what my school is all about), but ill get back to you when i know more. oh, and ill probably "have to" create a website for the movie, so be sure to check back here - ill post the adress as soon as its up and running. otherwise nothing noteworthy, or worthy of note as of yet. ill try to start blogging more often, but im not making any promises this time. ill try to keep it up with at least one post a week, because i do enjoy this, but it seems im just a tad lazy at times...but hey, even batman has flaws.

so, autumn is upon us shortly with film festivals creeping around the corner and lots of late evenings at school not far behind, without a doubt.

its going to be a good year . . . and i feel fine.

edit 29.8: sorry, i dont know what i was thinking. batman most certainly does *not* have any flaws. i mustve been tired or something, i sincerely apologise for any grief this clearly erroneous and false statement may have caused you or your loved ones.

The beautiful game.

now once again the football season culminated in the champions league final. however this time with two teams i dislike, one of which i outright despise. so you might ask, whats so great about that? but thats the thing, with football big passionate games are always enjoyable, no matter how seemingly boring they might be. and after the game (which ManU won on penalties, to my pleasure) when i was going to sleep i realised i actually felt bad and i mean heartfeltly bad for Terry over his missed penalty, you dont wish that upon any player, least of all the captain of a team. now you have to realise that i am talking about a player that i during the season loathe with a vengeance. however, seeing him absolutely crushed after the game i honestly felt bad for the guy.
and this is the thing im getting at, no matter how emotional a game, no matter how much you hate a player or a team, its still football. and everyone is invited.

Africa.

africa. "the dark continent" they say. i say its one of the most beautiful places on our planet. i just watched an old nature documentary about "The Big Five" (the five "greatest" animals in africa- the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the buffalo and the rhino), and i got cold shivers from seeing the familiar yet very distant images of nature, they are simply awe inspiring. especially the animals in africa. im telling you now, if you havent been to africa, make sure you do so in the near future. the african wilderness is unique in the world, and it is magnificent. i have been fortunate enough to have had the chance to live in namibia, and visit many other southern african countries and thus take in part of the glory of the continent. but im am planning on visiting the continent within the next 5years. it is an amazing place. i have nothing but affection and love for everything that is africa.

Frames of Existence

a peek into me and a few of my friends' lives. a frame every minute.

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?

"Vampire Weekend", doesnt sound like your average off the shelf indie sensation, now does it? but it is a sensation, that is, they are. you might have heard the hype. you might have heard a song or two. you might have read a review. i know i did. and then i got the album. and its every bit as great as its said to be. take my word (this seems to be a recurring theme in my posts nowadays, this whole business of "taking my word for it").

happy. light. fresh. easy. these are a few words id use to describe Vampire Weekend and their eponymous debut album. one of the better indie pop albums in a while. lots of fast strumming high-pitched guitars and rhythmic drumming (i get caribbean and african vibes from it). if this sounds appealing to you, Vampire Weekend is something for you.

oh and theyre very very white.

Dejuno?

i went to see juno on saturday, been wanting to see it for ages. those few of my friends who had been lucky enough to see it before it came out here in finland had exhausted pretty much every superlative known to man. so eager as a beaver i went to see it. and trust me when i say this, you will love it. absolutely adore it. juno macguff is positively the coolest female lead to come out of the closet (not that shes a lesbian) in a long while. and if you like movies with heart you will love "juno". its loaded with witty humour and a soundtrack thats friggin awesome! so how can you go wrong? i dont know what else to say, if you have a heart and you like laughing, see this movie. now.