Cloud City

Helsinki is currently developing new sustainable methods for building the city. Primarily these projects aim at increasing density at the expense of urban sprawl. One question is how to make existing built areas denser, another where and how to build high risers. The Cloud City project is one possible answer.

More info:
www.cloudcity.fi

Food Liberation Army

It all started by kidnapping the Ronald McDonald on 31st of Jan 2011. Hidden cameras of Food Liberation Army (FLA) reveal how Ronald was kidnapped in the middle of the day from McDonald´s restaurant.

One day later FLA announced they kidnapped Ronald McDonald! Their statement: why did we kidnap Ronald?

On Friday 11th of February 2011 FLA executes Ronald as McDonald's did not respond to FLA's demands and/or questions.

Later on Finnish artist Jani Leinonen holds the head of Ronald McDonald after its "execution" in a Helsinki art gallery Showroom Helsinki.

More info: www.freeronald.org
FLA exhibition @ Showroom Helsinki until 16th of April 2011.
Fox News Insider report

Helsinki's battle with the snow

CNN's Richard Quest reports on how the city of Helsinki has won the battle to keep the city moving during heavy snowfall... Well, the battle is not over actually.

Finland's answer to Turner Prize: Ars Fennica Award

(image copyright by Charles Sandison)

Charles Sandison won Finland's answer to Turner Prize in 2010: Ars Fennica award.

Have a look at his amazing portfolio. Now that's what I call art. WOW!

More info:
www.sandison.fi
www.bbc.co.uk

Cut Copy in Helsinki on Saturday 12.3.2011

Founded in Melbourne in 2001, Cut Copy are one of today's most successful indie electro acts along with Hot Chip, Empire of the Sun and LCD Soundsystem. Cut Copy's debut album "Bright Like Neon Love" earned the band an ever increasing following already in 2004 but the trio's popularity skyrocketed upon the release of their sophomore album "In Ghost Colours" in 2008. It topped the Australian album charts and the band played sold out tours in the U.S. and Europe with Daft Punk, Bloc Party and Franz Ferdinand, to mention a few. Cut Copy are currently finishing off their third album "Zonoscope" due February 7.

Tickets 35 euro + possible service fee.

www.tiketti.fi

Interactive bar opens in Tokyo

Do you remember MultiTouch screens?

The world’s largest hospitality multitouch display installation has been opened in Tokyo’s Graffiti Bar. Patrons can draw their own graffiti on the MultiTouch displays, and can browse drink and food menus, interact with their waiters, play games, and enjoy media content provided by the bar. Interactive special effects, including virtual champagne bubbles and lightning bolts, react to touch and objects placed on the tables. VIP cards placed on the MultiTouch displays will trigger exclusive VIP content.

More info:
MultiTouch.fi
tokyo-graffiti.com

Microtask loves the work you hate

DO one assigned task on your computer. It shouldn’t take you more than two seconds. Repeat 14,399 times. Congratulations! Your eight-hour work day is complete.

No such workplace yet exists, but with the fiendishly clever creation of standardized two-second tasks, delivered to any computer connected to the Internet, it is now technically possible to set up.

Microtask, a start-up company in Finland, has come up with the software that delivers such tasks. The company offers to take on "dull, repetitive work" — like digitizing paper forms or business cards — for prospective clients. As it says in a video on its Web site, "Microtask loves the work you hate."

More info:
Read the full article from NY Times (October 30, 2010).

www.microtask.com

Opengreenmap.org: documenting the green world

Green Living Sites. Nature. Social and Cultural Resources. You will find them all on the OpenGreenMap.org! I checked the status of my hometown Helsinki and there seems to 36 sites listed when posting this article. Many sites are missing like these ones:

Pyykkis - New ecological laundry service (Helsinginkatu 16)
Eat&Joy Farmer's market
Ecomarket Ruohonjuuri
Anton & Anton local food

Anyway, Open Green Maps are designed to be explored, customized and enhanced by anyone. Please share your insights, ratings and images or suggest, compare and share sites.

I try to suggest the ones listed above.

More info: Opengreenmap.org

Rat Nights (Rottenetter) - When we will see the premiere in Finland?

Wondering why the entertaining norwegian movie Rat Nights (Rottenetter directed by Arild Østin Ommundsen) has not been premiered in Finland yet?

Rottenatter combines elements from the movies Wall street, American Psycho and Snabba cash. If you liked some of those movies you will probably like Rottenetter as well. Soundtrack of the movie is by Thomas Dybdahl and with that soundtrack he won the Best Norwegian soundtrack award (Amandapris) in 2009.

Alternate Reality Game (ARG) concept was the driving force for marketing the movie in Norway. Or what do you think about this campaign?

Rare Exports

This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

More info:
www.rareexportsmovie.com
www.facebook.com/RareExportsMovie