Found on a Well Tuned Car

Found on a Well Tuned Car
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Odd

Odd
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Made by Giant. And they used to be such a respectable bike manufacturer.

I wouldn't mind a test ride, though.

Tent Testing

Tent Testing
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Spent one night in Nuuksio with Mikko, trying out the new tent. It turned out to be a pretty warm and calm night, so it might actually have been better to sleep without it. Now there was quite a lot of condensation in the morning.

Otherwise it was a very positive experience. The tent's sturdy, the two doors make life easier, and the little window is a very nice touch. The sidewalls slope in rather radically, but I guess this shape makes it more streamlined for strong winds. Makes sitting inside slightly cramped, though.

No worries about taking this one out for some more serious trips.

Converse Duck

Converse Duck
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The Door

The Door
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Well, I'm giving Flickr another chance, but no money yet...

Anyway, this is what I see every morning.

Excuses

Software trouble, work stress and lack of decent espresso for several days. Those are the main reasons I haven't been posting that much lately.

Flickr is actually a big mess right now. I was thinking about upgrading my account there, but since it's working so bad at the moment I don't feel inclined to dish out any money their way. I should be looking for an alternative image hosting service, but:

I'm working 9-17 (or 8-18, or something else) at local design consultancy Mozo Oy, thus having less free time for blogging and related activities compared to before. Also most of the interesting stuff I see daily is covered by NDA's.

So, please check back from time to time to see if the dust has settled and everything is running smoothly again.

Down in the Harbour

Down in the Harbour
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Like it wasn't obvious from the picture...

Turning Green

Turning Green
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Reclaiming the streets?

Swamp Harvester

Swamp Harvester
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

No idea what it's for really, but it was parked in the Viikki marshes.

Symbols

Symbols
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Well, long time no entries. The reasons are working 9-17 all week, as well as Flickr, that lovely web service, having some trouble with picture uploads.

Anyway, this is from the new Skanno shop down in Ruoholahti. The symbols look clear now, but when you're in a a big need and hurry a toilet door could be a bit more obvious.

Say

Say
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

These arrows are dangling from wires here and there in Helsinki. No idea what they are about.

Hämeenkatu

Hämeenkatu
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

New perspective.

Tampere From above

Tampere From above
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Kristian givin me a comprehensive sightseeing tour. Thank's!

Elevator From 1929

Elevator From 1929
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Going up to Kristian's apartment. You could sit on the bench and go up and down all day.

Breaking Stereotypes

Breaking Stereotypes
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Another poster in Tampere

Breaking Stereotypes

Breaking Stereotypes
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Posters on display in Tampere central square.

Morning Life Saver Set

Morning Life Saver Set
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Cafe La Familie, Tampere. Proves I can drink other things than espresso too. I blame the hangover.

Tampere Bus Ticket Reader

Tampere Bus Ticket Reader
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Uglier than the readers in Helsinki, but seemed to create less confusion among users.

Immobile Despite the Looks

Immobile Despite the Looks
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

In a regular IC train wagon. At least 10 people, including me, tried to turn them, because the directions of the airflow was a bit off. Maybe they are a practical joke, and there's a hidden camera filming it all?

Going to Tampere

Going to Tampere
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Went there for the graduation party of a friend and the Theater Festival.

Smallest Street Ad Ever

Smallest Street Ad Ever
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

More Haze

More Haze
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The smoky haze reminds me of Japan in the summer. I feel right at home with it.

Haze

Haze
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

There's lot's of smoke from forest fires over in Russia blowing in.

Ghost of the Ticket Machine

Ghost of the Ticket Machine
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

From the days we used paper tickets on public transport. Are they planning a comeback for them, since they've left the frame?

Ghost of MoA

Ghost of MoA
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The Maters of Art exhibition is long gone, but this advertisement lingers on the tram stop outside Stockmann. Wonder how the city Transport Authority feels about it?

Individual

Individual
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

...yet communal.

Step 4

Step 4
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The outer tent clips onto the frame, and everything is secured with pegs and guy ropes.

I got good vibes from this. Hope they last throughout the first serious overnight tests.

Step 3

Step 3
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The inner tent is clamped onto the poles.

All these steps can be done wearing gloves or mittens, which is nice.

Step 2

Step 2
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The ends go into respective sockets of the inner tent. They're colour coded, which is a nice touch.

Step 1

Step 1
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Bought a new tent today, a Marmot Twilight 2P. Setting it up was so simple that I even dare to show my effort here.

The interesting part is the one piece pole, which looks like a radio antenna. It gives the tent a good, roomy shape, and with it's six corners makes it very sturdy.

You know you should stop drinking when...

You know you should stop drinking when...
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Barcode Brand

Barcode Brand
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Seat With a View

Seat With a View
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Curves

Curves
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Tram Stockage

Tram Stockage
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Good way of public transportation, until one breaks down.

Airplane

Airplane
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

In my opinion, the only decent painting at a small exhibition outside the UIAH library. But this one I really like, too bad the colours don't come off that well in a photo.

Cafe Ursula

Cafe Ursula
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

The original Cafe Ursula is down by the seaside in the Kaivopuisto park, but seems they wanted a more central location too. This one is at the corner of Aleksanterinkatu and Mikonkatu. Good choice. During my (double this time) espresso I was entertained by a pretty professional string quintet playing classical tunes just around the corner. After they finished their set I could listen to a bagpipe playing Amazing Grace from a bit further away. And there was a mime across the street trying to distract me from my book on mobile user interfaces with his antics.

Anyway, the entertainment was there, and luckily, so was the espresso. Good stuff, although doubles tend to get pretty bitter towards the end. The chocolate was the usual Fazer Blue, but it got rid of the aftertaste. All in all, this place is up among my favourites now. Even the chairs were surprisingly comfortable, though they look like something that the Evil Galactic Empire of Star Wars would design.

Sidecar Scooter

Sidecar Scooter
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Oldies

Oldies
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Two wheelers of yesterday, or maybe even the day before.

Empty Underground 6

Empty Underground 6
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Many tunnels, like this one, can seem off limit, but actually there's a public elevator behind the door there leading up to the Forum shopping centre.

Anyway, navigating cities in 3D is fun. Don't stick to the 2D imges of a map.

Empty Underground 5

Empty Underground 5
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Empty Underground 4

Empty Underground 4
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Empty Underground 3

Empty Underground 3
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Empty Underground 2

Empty Underground 2
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Empty Underground 1

Empty Underground 1
Originally uploaded by Rollofunk.

Helsinki has quite a few underground passages in the downtown area. Somehow they fascinate me, and it's a fun excercise in 3D routefinding to get from point A to point B without stepping out on the streets.

Another fascinating thing is, that many of these passages are rarely used. Today I went through several in which I was all alone.