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.