Category: generic

Hi all, it’s been a while.. Happy new year to everybody, and happy birthday to my blog, which turned one year old already two weeks ago! :-)

Now that I am on vacation I have found some time to update my web site. It is one of those things that is usually not so highly prioritized.. I decided to put most of the dynamic stuff into wiki, which makes it easier to update stuff every now and then, compared to static HTML files that are in CVS. I don’t have that much stuff on the site anyway, but it is good to have some place holder on-line that is completely under my control.

Some highlights from a nerd viewpoint this year have been my conversion to a Mac people. I decided to give Apple a try and bought a Macbook when I was in California. I quickly realized I should have done it a long time ago. Although all complex systems have bugs, there seems to be less bugs in Apple products compared to e.g. Windows or Linux, and other computer manufacturers. The user interface and design are also worth the extra price. Being couraged with the first Mac I also switched from the Sony Ericsson phone to an iPhone 3GS. The last phone before that I bought with my own money was 1997 or something. I don’t regret a bit. I didn’t need to hesitate for very long when I bought a new Mac Mini to be my living room PC. It replaced a separate DVD-player and a DVB-T PVR. Although I already had a PS3, I wanted a real computer which had a real web browser and where I can install whatever software, like Spotify.

The easy life with Apple has been compensated with various problems regarding the server side. I have been running a NetBSD file etc. server for years without any major problems. When I returned from California, the server motherboard made a suicide. After I started to replace parts, there seems to be no end. I am struggling with the read/write timeouts problem on the hard disks. I have already replaced each part at least twice, so now it is time to look for other operating systems and try to find out where the problem might be.

I have had some kind of a break from geocaching. I broke the 1000 found caches in March but after returning to Finland the same has happened to geocaching as to blogging, they had to be given up for all the hardware struggles I have had. There are only so many hours of free time left after work. I guess they will be given some more priority again next year. And I will start running again after the snow melts.

l8r!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer, wherever you are! :-)

I have been using my writing energy in the California 2009 blog so not much has happened here. I expect to turn into this blog after I return to Finland.

So far my visit to California has been pretty good. I have learned a lot, professionally and about the local culture and area as well. I have been driving around with two different Mustangs, 2009 and 2010 models. Unfortunately they are only V6, but that is limited due to the budget. If I would buy one it would be minimum a GT and most likely Shelby GT500 or a GT with extra charger(s). But then again with that money I could buy a Corvette, which has a “slightly” better steering as well.

Overall, I am surprised that all cars, US and exports, are much cheaper here than even in the countries they are manufactured in. I guess the competition is just so tough here and the volumes are huge. Well besides weather, cheap cars is the next best thing here. Of course the nature is amazing too. Within a short driving distance there is the ocean, mountains and the deserts.

Besides cheap cars, nice weather and beautiful nature, I think it is somehow easier and more relaxed to live in Finland. It might, however, have to do with the fact that I was born there and I just feel like being home.

By the way, I have been extremely happy with my Macbook. It is such a pleasure to use compared to Windows or Linux. “It just works” – I can concentrate on the content and what I do rather than trying to keep it in a working condition all the time. My next _PC_ will definitely be a Mac! :-)

Unfortunately this generic blog of mine has not received that much attention lately, as I have tried to keep my California blog up to date. It is also unfortunate to non-Finnish speakers that it is only in Finnish.

However, greetings from California to all! :-) I’ve been here now two weeks and everything’s pretty good.