tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75928665325149071792024-03-13T22:12:42.532+01:00OxygenLife's a gas...Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-19965612276840484032009-03-29T12:12:00.006+02:002009-03-29T13:18:35.255+02:00Another one bites the dust<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/Sc9LQnhWKVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/T5-8sJp1Hc4/s1600-h/IMG_6493_pn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/Sc9LQnhWKVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/T5-8sJp1Hc4/s320/IMG_6493_pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318552433806682450" border="0" /></a>My laptop computer has been been complaining for a while, making a lot of noice and shutting down as soon as I try to use it for anything requiring some work...<br />After a bit of googling, I ordered a replacement fan this week. Spent an hour yesterday removing more and more parts to get access to the old fan. After replacing it and returning all the parts to the right place the computer gladly booted up, really quiet and stable.<br /><br clear="all"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/Sc9LQrLu9pI/AAAAAAAAAJE/wi5_N9mkWWw/s1600-h/IMG_6490_pn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/Sc9LQrLu9pI/AAAAAAAAAJE/wi5_N9mkWWw/s320/IMG_6490_pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318552434789774994" border="0" /></a><br />Looking at the state of the old fan, I can understand why it complained... I guess having a cat might have contributed to the problem...Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-51145418430088764682008-12-24T11:58:00.005+01:002008-12-24T12:50:09.341+01:00Season's GreetingsThere are only two great Christmas songs. Fairytale of New York is one - this is the other:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/30kXXTdmGCo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/30kXXTdmGCo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />As a Christmas gift, two songs from my favorite concert this year - Katheen Edwards solo at Debaser:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8rOqwDnGEQg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8rOqwDnGEQg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsq7MxuUsSU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsq7MxuUsSU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-43054695577790955422008-11-17T21:10:00.003+01:002008-11-17T21:21:06.027+01:00Culture's old. It's older than copyright......and it is more important.<br /><br />Cory Doctorow nails it again:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.locusmag.com/Features/2008/11/cory-doctorow-why-i-copyfight.html">http://www.locusmag.com/Features/2008/11/cory-doctorow-why-i-copyfight.html</a><br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-22337766404207777842008-11-16T18:24:00.007+01:002008-11-16T19:29:39.396+01:00Bird song<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/3035447034/" title="Fågel-låt, by Pierre Olofsson by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/3035447034_7d7b8d6c7a.jpg" alt="Fågel-låt, by Pierre Olofsson" height="177" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br />I got a new serigraph by my favorite Swedish graphic artist <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pierre Olofsson</span> today. It's called <span style="font-style: italic;">Fågel-låt</span> (Bird song). Beautiful. Just need to frame it before it joins my previous Pierre Olofsson serigraphs on the walls of my apartment:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/3035447688/" title="Unknown, by Pierre Olofsson by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/3035447688_db601aaf9f_m.jpg" alt="Unknown, by Pierre Olofsson" align="right" height="240" width="165" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/3035447286/" title="Serpentin, by Pierre Olofsson by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/3035447286_87dc9b00ce_m.jpg" alt="Serpentin, by Pierre Olofsson" height="240" width="189" /></a><br /><br />There is an embarrassing lack of information in English about Pierre Olofsson on the net. I think I might have to do something about that....<br /><br />And now, kind of related - my current favorite Swedish female singer/songwriter <a href="http://www.fridahyvonen.com/">Frida Hyvönen</a>, singing <span style="font-style: italic;">Birds</span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jennie Abrahamsson</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marit Bergman</span> in the dressing room before a show in NYC:<br /><br /><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07083371466593782 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUJOyUNTzuc&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07083371466593782 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUJOyUNTzuc&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07083371466593782 visible ontop" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUJOyUNTzuc&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUJOyUNTzuc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GUJOyUNTzuc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Makes me really happy that I have tickets for Frida's concert at Södra Teatern in December. If you can catch her on the tour, you really should.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-51537817752813600252008-10-16T19:59:00.008+02:002008-10-16T20:44:33.690+02:00Dags att införa skyddsjakt på Kungligheter?<span style="font-style: italic;">"De äter mycket... det bara är så... och man måste börja beskatta stammen... Det är bara att räkna på - om de är två nu... det blir sju nästa år... och om de får hitta sina partners nånstans så exploderar det ju..."<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span>Kung Carl XVI Gustav om vargar...</span><br /></div><br /><br />Jaha... sådär - då blev man rabiat republikan igen.<br /><br />Jag är extremt ointresserad av att betala kungens appanage om han tror att han har rätt att utnyttja sin statligt subventionerade mediaposition till att marknadsföra sina personliga åsikter i frågor som han har nollkoll på. Som jakt på vargar. Eller demokrati-läget in Brunei...<br /><br />Hur var det nu - finns det partier som faktiskt vill avskaffa kungadömet? På riktigt?! Eller är vi hänvisade till skyddsjakt?<br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-14464121435828292092008-09-27T22:12:00.009+02:002008-09-27T22:52:25.982+02:00Ain’t it the times we are living inI am a bit late jumping on the bandwagon, but sometimes something comes along that remind us that rock music actually matters, beyond just being good entertainment. This week, Glasvegas did that in a way that just knocked me of my feet.<br /><br />I could go on about "an amalgam of The Manic Street Preachers, Echo And The Bunnymen, Big Country and early U2 with the spirit of The Clash and Dexys Midnight Runners thrown in"... or I could just link to the the magnificent Geraldine on YouTube:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dquK43zFfKc&feature=user">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dquK43zFfKc&feature=user</a><br /><br />The rest of the album is just as good or even better.<br /><br />You might want to check out <a href="http://www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php?lid=3530822107858701640">the lyrics</a>:<br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-56824550402906459412008-09-01T17:04:00.006+02:002008-09-01T17:37:20.719+02:00Philippine Island hopping<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2817327084/" title="Balicasag Island by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2817327084_b0106c5ba4_m.jpg" alt="Balicasag Island" align="right" height="162" width="240" /></a>My previous visits to the Philippines have been limited to a few hours or maybe a night in Manila, transiting to Yap, Guam, PNG, etc. This time I had decided to give the country a better chance to seduce me - going on a Scuba Safari in The Visayas. 13 days in total, divided between resorts in Moalboal on Cebu, Dauin on Negros Oriental and Cabilao off Bohol, with the days spent diving around and between the resorts.<br /><br />Apart from the first few days, we had excellent weather, contrary to common misconceptions that this would be in the middle of the rainy as well as the typhoon season. Yes, there where typhoons hitting the north of the Philippines, and yes they also had a lot rain in other areas, but it really is a big country, with local climates.<br /><br />The diving was great as well. Even better than I had expected. Not much in the way of big creatures, but lots and lots of small stuff, as well as a multitude of corals hard and soft in excellent condition.<br /><br />For now, photos can be found <a href="http://travels.patrik.com/ph/">on my travel site</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/sets/72157607032696796/">over on Flickr</a>.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-71322505189141456502008-06-18T20:44:00.007+02:002008-06-19T11:17:32.906+02:00Little Brother<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Cory-Doctorow/dp/0765319853/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SFoDhBChzsI/AAAAAAAAAGc/M0YAU_Xtifk/s400/brother.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213483384384376514" border="0" /></a><br />Even though, or actually because, football seems to be more important than liberty in Sweden today, I strongly recommend reading Cory Doctorows Little Brother. Regardless of your age. Or political affiliation...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Brother-Cory-Doctorow/dp/0765319853/">Seriously.</a>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-12383992846721030812008-06-18T19:23:00.020+02:002009-11-08T16:29:34.371+01:00New Guitar In Town<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SFlGDvjByTI/AAAAAAAAAGU/XIdSb6ZZf_s/s1600-h/SD870_IMG_5128_pn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SFlGDvjByTI/AAAAAAAAAGU/XIdSb6ZZf_s/s400/SD870_IMG_5128_pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213275073774995762" border="0" /></a>There is a new guitar in town.<br /><br />A brand new cherry red limited edition Epiphone Wilshire to be more specific... This is an official Gibson/Epiphone reissue of the original 1965 Wilshire model that I already own.<br /><br />While not an exact copy, it's quite close. Considering I payed twice as much for the original 25 years ago, I'm really happy with the purchase.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the 65 original is off to the guitar shop for some long overdue service and repair.<br /><br />Still looking for a shop stocking the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-Limited-Wilshire-Electric-Guitar/dp/B0015RC0CI">alpine white</a> version of the reiusse. (Musician's Friend does not, regardless of what they claim on Amazon.)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Update 2008-11-23:<br /><br />Eventually got the Alpine white this week. While I like the white paint job, I am quite disappointed in the quality of the wood work. Where the Cherry Red re-issue stayed quite close to the original body, with very rounded forms, the Alpine White is just a flat piece of wood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SSmO-jXUFWI/AAAAAAAAAIA/oppQg2Q2-14/s1600-h/40D_IMG_2833_pn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SSmO-jXUFWI/AAAAAAAAAIA/oppQg2Q2-14/s320/40D_IMG_2833_pn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271902044109935970" border="0" /></a>Where the original reminded you of a Stratocaster, the Alpine white is more of a Telecaster.<br /><br />I guess I might get used to it, but I can't see why Epiphone decided to make this change.<br /><br />Update 2009-11-08:<br /><br />Epiphone has released another Wilshire re-issue. This time they refer to it as a Wilshire 1966. Got mine this week.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I got the worn black version as I already have a cherry colored one.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />First impressions - they got the details right this time. The body is quite similar to the original, the inlays in the fretboard are dots rather than squares and, finally, the humbuckers are the mini model rather than the standard sized ones.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SvbgwTcRiRI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ZgMfi38l1Ck/s1600-h/wilshire_66_reissue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SvbgwTcRiRI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ZgMfi38l1Ck/s320/wilshire_66_reissue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401751923534694674" border="0" /></a><br />Not impressed by the Epiphone quality control though. There is a very annoying buzz on the A and E strings. It'll probably require a neck adjustment and/or filing downs some frets.<br /><br />Patrik<br /></span>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-19257574710935121922008-06-16T11:01:00.004+02:002008-06-16T11:30:51.167+02:00Gangster allianceRegarding the suggested "FRA law" in Sweden: The Specials said it almost 30 years ago:<br /><div style="font-style: italic;"><br />Why must you record my phone calls?<br />Are you planning a bootleg LP?<br />Said you've been threatened by gangsters<br />Now it's you, that's threatening me<br /><br />Can't fight corruption with con tricks<br />They use the law to commit crime<br />And I dread, dread to think what the future will bring<br />When we're living in gangster time<br /></div><br /><br /><object style="font-style: italic;" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zWZzsxgH2gY&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zWZzsxgH2gY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-17168585182359337822008-06-14T11:50:00.007+02:002008-06-18T19:22:53.277+02:00No Russians in Russia<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2573529722/" title="All-Russian Exhibition Center by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2573529722_37873cc37c_m.jpg" width="240" height="182" alt="All-Russian Exhibition Center" align="right" /></a>I went to Moscow last weekend. You can find a few photos on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/sets/72157605556757592/">Flickr</a> as well as on <a href="http://jalbum.net/?wicket:bookmarkablePage=%3Ajalbum.web.explore.BrowseUserAlbumsPage&album=15991">Jalbum</a>.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-48378557957208320952008-05-20T04:19:00.002+02:002008-05-20T04:22:11.273+02:00That was quick...Today is my last day in Yap. I am leaving early tomorrow morning and should be back in Sweden Thursday morning local time.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-36744247737289481592008-05-07T11:41:00.010+02:002008-05-09T05:18:53.476+02:00A Tropical Depression (03W)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SCF6dsSKjdI/AAAAAAAAAFs/zBdBZwH4r-A/s1600-h/depression.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SCF6dsSKjdI/AAAAAAAAAFs/zBdBZwH4r-A/s320/depression.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197570095484407250" border="0" /></a>This is how it looks - a tropical depression.<br /><br />It might turn into a typhoon during the next few days, but there is no reason to expect it to cause any substantial damage - we'll see a lot of rain and winds, but that's about it.<br /><br />In Burma though, people are really hurting, so please help your favorite organization help the people in Burma.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update, May 8th:</span> We now have a Tropical Storm - <span style="font-style: italic;">Rammasun</span>. Still predicted to go far west of us though. More information at <a href="http://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php">Joint Typhoon Warning Center</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update, May 9th</span>: Rammasun is now a Typhoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SCJSlcSKjeI/AAAAAAAAAF0/IVE5FZJoKzY/s1600-h/rammsun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/SCJSlcSKjeI/AAAAAAAAAF0/IVE5FZJoKzY/s400/rammsun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197807723139993058" border="0" /></a>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-77869686146387622612008-04-21T07:52:00.005+02:002008-04-21T08:26:57.342+02:00Then I'm gonna go out walking...<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2430148010/" title="Walking the Tamilyog Trail by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2163/2430148010_43718329b0_m.jpg" alt="Walking the Tamilyog Trail" align="right" height="160" width="240" /></a>Yesterday, we walked the Tamilyog Trail.<br /><br />Tamilyog is an old trail that connects the western and the eastern sides of the island. Parts of it is ancient stone paths through the jungle, parts a grassy path through green hills.<br /><br />When modern roads where built on Yap and cars became common, the trail was abandoned and neglected. It was restored and reopened in January 2004, just to be severly damaged by the typhoon Sudal a few months later. Repairs where completed in July 2005 though and Tamilyog is now popular with both locals and visitors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2430137852/" title="Walking the Tamilyog Trail by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2430137852_1df483d1a5_m.jpg" alt="Walking the Tamilyog Trail" align="right" height="240" width="160" /></a>It was three really nice kilometers of walking, with excellent views, close encounters with island nature and beautiful reminders of the ancient Yapese culture.<br /><br />I'll have to do this again before I leave.<br /><br />You can check out the trail in Google Earth <a href="http://p.2.nu/tamilyog.kmz">here</a>. More photos can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/">here</a>.<br /><br />-<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Completely unrelated - trying to teach Google a new word - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/fruktbattar/">fruktbattar</a>.</span>Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-70922856581199918792008-04-11T12:27:00.004+02:002008-04-11T12:50:41.447+02:00Dog's Life<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2404501973/" title="Dog's Life by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2404501973_d005b4d70f_m.jpg" alt="Dog's Life" style="float: right;" height="180" width="240" /></a>I love Yap, but...<br /><br />What Yap needs, part 1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">A V</span><span style="font-style: italic;">eterinarian</span>.<br /><br />For an island population of around 10 000 people, there are quite a few dogs, pigs, cats, poultry and other domestic animals in Yap. But there is no veterinary. Except for yearly visits from Guam for a day or two, we are veterinary-less.<br /><br />Apart from the major problem of having no-one around to diagnose and take care of sick animals, this also means that there is no one in Yap that can neuter animals. Which means that there are a lot of stray animals. Especially dogs. A lot of them. Stray dogs. Starving.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2404499279/" title="Dog's Life by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/2404499279_711b1cd3cb_m.jpg" width="240" height="176" alt="Dog's Life" style="float: right;"/></a>If you seriously want to attract tourists, you do not handle that problem by once a year killing off dogs that don't have collars, so:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Yap needs, part 1 = </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A V</span><b style="font-style: italic;">eterinarian</b><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br />Part 2 coming up.<br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-21244486143944542262008-03-20T06:57:00.009+01:002008-03-20T08:42:40.367+01:00Back in noir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/R-IEhz1NaMI/AAAAAAAAAFM/aFOwetq2kXs/s1600-h/resurrectionist.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; float: right;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ple289eB1Kw/R-IEhz1NaMI/AAAAAAAAAFM/aFOwetq2kXs/s400/resurrectionist.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179707500325071042" border="0" /></a>Just a note for those who, like me, have been waiting for the new <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack O'Connell</span> novel.<br /><br />Well, it took 10 years, but <a href="http://www.enterlimbo.com/" target="_blank">it's finally here!</a>. My copy of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Resurrectionist</span> actually arrived on my desk this morning.<br /><br />I had to order it from Barnes & Noble though, as Amazon insisted that it would take 3 weeks to deliver, even though they had it in stock...<br /><br />Trusting the Strand Magazine review, I am looking forward to a great read:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"A masterpiece, O'Connell's tour de force has a dose of the uncertainty of Kafka, the fantasy of Bradbury, the crisp prose of Greene, and the noir of Chandler."</span><br /><br />If you are in Los Angeles on April 30th, you can meet not only Jack, but also James Ellroy, who is determined that this will be Jack's breakthrough novel:<br /><a href="http://www.booksoup.com/author-events.asp?offset=30" target="_blank">http://www.booksoup.com/author-events.asp?offset=30</a><br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-55807112211812048512008-03-17T10:31:00.003+01:002008-03-17T10:50:23.923+01:00And we don't know, just where our bones will restTo dust I guess...<br /><br />I've been listening to the new Caesars album for a while now. Strangely, for an old fan like me, out of 25 songs, there is only one that I really like so far - Strawberry Weed. Problem is, the main reason I like that one is the guitar sound and the riff. A riff and a sound that sounds very, very familiar to my ears. For almost a week, I've been trying to figure out where I've heard it before. Today it hit me - it's straight out of Smashing Pumpkins' 1979!<br /><br />Now that I've figured that out, I am listening to 1979 over and over, rather than Strawberry Weed...<br /><br />Sorry Caesars, but you borrowed too much from too great a song without contributing enough new greatness to it.<br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-17274461192945855422008-03-09T07:57:00.002+01:002008-03-17T10:31:08.517+01:00Back to schoolWent diving today.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2319802957/" title="Schooling Barracuda by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2319802957_c0d587e670_m.jpg" width="240" height="175" alt="Schooling Barracuda" align="right" /></a>Bad luck with the first dive - should have been perfect conditions to see the mantas, with new moon and high outgoing tides. But for some reason we have experienced large surges for a few weeks that causes bad visibility in the channels. So, we only saw one manta and not much else...<br /><br />For the second dive, we went south, down to Magic Kingdom. Much better - decent visibility, beautiful corals, a close encounter with a turtle and a large school of barracudas.<br /><br clear="all" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2320614994/" title="Schooling Barracuda by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2320614994_3045608ed8_m.jpg" width="240" height="177" alt="Schooling Barracuda" align="right" /></a>I am a sucker for large schools of fish in general, and barracudas in particular. The way the school moves around and change form like it's one large organism is fascinating and beautiful.<br /><br />So, a good opportunity to try out my new wide-angle adapter for my underwater housing. I was quite pleased with it. Not as happy with the new underwater strobe, but hopefully I will figure it out next time.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-84909187419583520252008-03-03T11:18:00.002+01:002008-03-03T11:33:56.350+01:00Yap Days 2008<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2303714753/" title="Yap Day 2008, Day 2 by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2303714753_51b06cf22f_m.jpg" width="240" height="170" alt="Yap Day 2008, Day 2" align="right"/></a>We've just had an excellent Yap Day weekend.<br /><br />Yap Day occurs yearly on March first, but it usually spreads out to either February last or March second as well. This year it was March first and second.<br /><br />This is a tradition that has been going on for 40 years now, where the Yapese celebrate their history and culture, for Yapese as well as visitors to enjoy.<br /><br />I, as well as anyone I talked to, had a great time. Hopefully my selection of photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/">over on flickr</a> will give you some idea of the festivities. Me, I am as pleased as can be that I finally got a chance to go out on a real Yapese outrigger sailing canoe!Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-3325700846044668692008-02-12T03:35:00.001+01:002008-03-03T11:17:45.456+01:00Miil morning<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrik-com/2259504398/" title="Mantas cruising in Miil Channel by Patrik Nilsson, on Flickr"><img align="right" border="1" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2259504398_1421fe19e9_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Mantas cruising in Miil Channel" /></a>Went diving in Miil this morning. Great dive - at least 6 different mantas showed up, Valerie, Rabbit and Junior among others, many of them returning again and again.<br /><br />The water was quite murky though, so I didn't get any real good shots with my small Canon compact. I have ordered an external flash that should help in the future. Hopefully it should ship from Taiwan tomorrow, when the Chinese new year holidays are over and the post offices opens again in Taipei. Looking forward to try it out at the end of next week when there will be a full moon and ideal conditions.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-88445595507765840912008-02-10T05:15:00.000+01:002008-02-10T05:29:31.698+01:00Walk The LineThis week I've been playing around a bit with my GPS, my photos and Google Earth. I thought I'd try to show you a bit more of how it actually looks here, rather than posting photos of things I find interesting.<br /><br />If you have Google Earth installed and follow this link - <a href="http://www.patrik.com/Sidewalking.kmz">Sidewalking</a> - you should get a pathway and photos from a walk I took after work a few days ago. You can animate the path of the walk by clicking on the "play" symbol top right, or by dragging the slider. Clicking on the camera symbols will show you a photo from that location. You can also click on images in the "Waypoints" listing on the left.<br /><br />I do this walk most days after work. And when I'm not busy taking photos, I usually do it a bit quicker... It's not obvious from Google Earth, as their height information is way off, but the walk up to the top of the hill is quite steep in places so it's quite a good exercise.<br /><br />Soundtrack: Supersuckers - Roadworn and WearyPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-48442674616173729342008-02-09T00:55:00.000+01:002008-02-09T04:31:57.877+01:00Shake it offYesterday's earthquake has been reported as a 5.4, with the epicenter just 15 miles east of Yap island:<br /><br /><a href="http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2008neah.php">http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2008neah.php</a><br /><br />Local people say it's the strongest one they have ever experienced here.<br /><br />We had a small aftershock this morning, but a very short one.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-40033355942116519422008-02-08T10:21:00.000+01:002008-02-09T00:53:31.565+01:00Earthquake WeatherExperienced my first substantial earthquake today.<br /><br />Scary.<br /><br />Still waiting for information on the how's and where's, but it didn't do any substantial damage - some shelves in one of the local stores going down, but that seems to be it.<br /><br />Me - being on the second floor inside the concrete hotel when it struck - I got quite shook up mentally though. All the stuff you have heard in movies about how to act in earthquakes went through my head - "Take cover under a table or similar, don't try to get out of the building" is what I imagine having heard. So, of course I focused on getting out of the building as quickly as I could as the earth was rocking...<br /><br />I got out just fine, and would have been just as fine staying inside...<br /><br />PatrikPatrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-4092319944931442952008-01-10T11:21:00.000+01:002008-01-10T11:42:13.825+01:00Tatiana the Tiger Has SpokenVery nicely summing up my feelings about recent events at the zoo in San Francisco; a 3 year old Neko Case quote - Tigers Are Noble - from the the Tigers Have Spoken live album:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">[Neko:]<br />This is a sad song, about tigers.<br /><br />[Carolyn:]<br />Let's champion the tigers.<br /><br />[Neko:]<br />Let's champion the tiger 'cause.<br />You know, I think that maybe I wrote this song for many reasons<br />But I was telling them earlier, I was in a cab in Toronto the other day<br />And the CBC was on and they were talking to a lady<br />Who specializes in animal husbandry<br />And she takes care of the tigers at The Toronto Zoo.<br />And they said "Well do you ever reintroduce the tigers?"<br />And she goes "Well, no, because their habitat can't sustain them."<br />And immediately I thought to myself<br />'There's so many extra children, we could just feed the children, to these tigers.'<br />We don't need them. We're not doing anything with them.<br />Tigers are, tigers are...<br /><br />[Carolyn:]<br />Noble!<br /><br />[Male voice:]<br />Hungry!<br /><br />[Neko:]<br />Noble, and sleek<br />Children are loud and messy<br />I was one of those children<br />If I were to become tiger food<br />It would've been more noble than<br /><br />[Carolyn:]<br />Heavy!<br /><br />[Neko:]<br />Anyway<br />Probably ruined the song for you now<br />But we'll still play it for you anyway<br /></span><br /><br />In memory of Tatiana the Tiger.Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7592866532514907179.post-39688497132682544572007-12-13T13:53:00.000+01:002007-12-13T14:48:29.338+01:00For Agent 13 - Back On The Chain GangSo... I'm back in Yap again, after a short but very nice trip to Sweden.<br /><br />Spending some time in a place with decent internet connectivity allowed me to get a bit updated on things YouTube, etc, and as we're heading into the "Best of the Year" season - here´s a video from my Best Album of the Year band, The Besnard Lakes:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PMOyBHIGjnY&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PMOyBHIGjnY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />The album is called The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse. It is that good.<br /><br />Back in Sweden, nothing else came even close to Annika Norlin and Säkert!Patrik Nilssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17207644254434677466noreply@blogger.com0