Tommi
@tommikakko.bsky.social
University lecturer at the UEF, PhD in English philology, book blogger, niin & näin; posts in English and Finnish
The second step in painting a portrait is sometimes called the “awkward phase.” Sometimes I go through several of these.
November 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
The second step in painting a portrait is sometimes called the “awkward phase.” Sometimes I go through several of these.
Art teachers say you should not fall in love with the initial drawing when painting a portrait. They also say you should have a good drawing before moving on to the next step. I’m confused and have many questions.
November 11, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Art teachers say you should not fall in love with the initial drawing when painting a portrait. They also say you should have a good drawing before moving on to the next step. I’m confused and have many questions.
I was sick for two days, so I watched a lot of films.
I watched the new Ghostbusters film which I loved because of nostalgia.
It's a very American film: even if you are a ghost, you can go to jail, and even then real estate is a nightmare.
I watched the new Ghostbusters film which I loved because of nostalgia.
It's a very American film: even if you are a ghost, you can go to jail, and even then real estate is a nightmare.
November 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
I was sick for two days, so I watched a lot of films.
I watched the new Ghostbusters film which I loved because of nostalgia.
It's a very American film: even if you are a ghost, you can go to jail, and even then real estate is a nightmare.
I watched the new Ghostbusters film which I loved because of nostalgia.
It's a very American film: even if you are a ghost, you can go to jail, and even then real estate is a nightmare.
I watched Sisu yesterday. It was a great action film about the importance of fighting nazis.
November 8, 2025 at 10:45 AM
I watched Sisu yesterday. It was a great action film about the importance of fighting nazis.
I watched the new Twisters movie today. I thought it was an exciting film about the importance of funding science projects.
November 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I watched the new Twisters movie today. I thought it was an exciting film about the importance of funding science projects.
It’s only Tuesday, but you can almost see the sun.
November 4, 2025 at 7:56 AM
It’s only Tuesday, but you can almost see the sun.
This BBC article begins: “Your social media feed is being taken over by AI video slop.” Mine isn’t. You don’t have to suffer either. You can just leave.
November 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This BBC article begins: “Your social media feed is being taken over by AI video slop.” Mine isn’t. You don’t have to suffer either. You can just leave.
Weather forecast in Finland: “We may see the sun this week.” Maybe on Thursday.
November 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Weather forecast in Finland: “We may see the sun this week.” Maybe on Thursday.
My oil painting workflow is slowly coming back to me. It’s also very difficult to take good pictures of oil paintings.
November 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
My oil painting workflow is slowly coming back to me. It’s also very difficult to take good pictures of oil paintings.
Had some time to sketch tonight. I’m a bit rusty and the colors get muddy, but it was surprisingly fun. Oil on stone paper.
October 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Had some time to sketch tonight. I’m a bit rusty and the colors get muddy, but it was surprisingly fun. Oil on stone paper.
I watched Black Mirror's Hotel Reverie tonight and broke down in tears at the end. Maybe it's the lack of sleep.
October 28, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I watched Black Mirror's Hotel Reverie tonight and broke down in tears at the end. Maybe it's the lack of sleep.
Iltiksen otsikko hymähdytti.
October 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Iltiksen otsikko hymähdytti.
I'm comparing translations of Pico's On the Dignity of Man. The modern one I found is scholarly and great, but the 1950s translation has nicer prose – and you get to read Russell Kirk's weird preface steeped in Cold War rhetoric.
October 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I'm comparing translations of Pico's On the Dignity of Man. The modern one I found is scholarly and great, but the 1950s translation has nicer prose – and you get to read Russell Kirk's weird preface steeped in Cold War rhetoric.
Had a chat with one of the patrons at a show last night. He said: “In order to have civilization, everyone needs to be civilized.”
Not sure about all the possible footnotes to that claim, but it sounded profound.
Not sure about all the possible footnotes to that claim, but it sounded profound.
October 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Had a chat with one of the patrons at a show last night. He said: “In order to have civilization, everyone needs to be civilized.”
Not sure about all the possible footnotes to that claim, but it sounded profound.
Not sure about all the possible footnotes to that claim, but it sounded profound.
"The entire East Wing is gone. Osama bin Laden could not do that."
October 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
"The entire East Wing is gone. Osama bin Laden could not do that."
Stop scrolling and post two characters that bring you happiness.
Not sure if they are characters, but I play them both.
Not sure if they are characters, but I play them both.
October 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Stop scrolling and post two characters that bring you happiness.
Not sure if they are characters, but I play them both.
Not sure if they are characters, but I play them both.
“Tapahtui ongelma”? Onko tuo edes suomea?
October 21, 2025 at 7:37 AM
“Tapahtui ongelma”? Onko tuo edes suomea?
I’m distracting myself from the news by reading Thomas Ligotti’s horror stories.
October 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I’m distracting myself from the news by reading Thomas Ligotti’s horror stories.
The new Fu Manchu live album sounds great. If you like fuzz, it has all the fuzz you like. It inspired me to write a poem on my way home:
I recycle plastic, metal
And always use clean energy
But I do own a fuzz pedal
And that thing is f*cking dirty
I recycle plastic, metal
And always use clean energy
But I do own a fuzz pedal
And that thing is f*cking dirty
October 16, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The new Fu Manchu live album sounds great. If you like fuzz, it has all the fuzz you like. It inspired me to write a poem on my way home:
I recycle plastic, metal
And always use clean energy
But I do own a fuzz pedal
And that thing is f*cking dirty
I recycle plastic, metal
And always use clean energy
But I do own a fuzz pedal
And that thing is f*cking dirty
Reading Coetzee's Dusklands (1974). It seems important now.
October 15, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reading Coetzee's Dusklands (1974). It seems important now.
Hei tyypit! En ole koskaan lukenut Krasznahorkaita. Mistä teoksesta kannattaisi aloittaa? Suunnittelen lukevani poikkeuksellisesti käännöstä suomeksi.
October 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Hei tyypit! En ole koskaan lukenut Krasznahorkaita. Mistä teoksesta kannattaisi aloittaa? Suunnittelen lukevani poikkeuksellisesti käännöstä suomeksi.
Mietin eilen, millaisia unelmia minulla on. Yksi sellainen olisi polttaa piipullinen (en suosittele muille) ja juoda kuppi teetä oman työhuoneen kirjaston nojatuolissa (suosittelen). Kollega Malcolm Guite näyttää alla mallia. Tämä on vain unelma, koska se vaatisi tosi paljon omaisuutta. 1/4
October 11, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Mietin eilen, millaisia unelmia minulla on. Yksi sellainen olisi polttaa piipullinen (en suosittele muille) ja juoda kuppi teetä oman työhuoneen kirjaston nojatuolissa (suosittelen). Kollega Malcolm Guite näyttää alla mallia. Tämä on vain unelma, koska se vaatisi tosi paljon omaisuutta. 1/4
On Aleksis Kiven ja suomalaisen kirjallisuuden päivä. Eläessään Kivi sai kokea sairautta, hulluutta ja säälimätöntä pilkkaa. Nyt häntä liputetaan. Päivä voisi olla myös nimetty "voi helvetti, että me oltiin väärässä tämän tyypin suhteen -päivä". 1/3
October 10, 2025 at 10:22 AM
On Aleksis Kiven ja suomalaisen kirjallisuuden päivä. Eläessään Kivi sai kokea sairautta, hulluutta ja säälimätöntä pilkkaa. Nyt häntä liputetaan. Päivä voisi olla myös nimetty "voi helvetti, että me oltiin väärässä tämän tyypin suhteen -päivä". 1/3
Kuinka tekoäly korvaa töitä? En ole löytänyt yhtään esimerkkiä kyselyn tiimoilta. Haluaisin oikeasti tietää, miten tuo korvaaminen tapahtuu tai on tapahtuva. Prosentit ovat sen verran korkeita, ettei pelkkä sähköpostien chatbot-kirjoittaminen selitä kaikkea.
October 8, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Kuinka tekoäly korvaa töitä? En ole löytänyt yhtään esimerkkiä kyselyn tiimoilta. Haluaisin oikeasti tietää, miten tuo korvaaminen tapahtuu tai on tapahtuva. Prosentit ovat sen verran korkeita, ettei pelkkä sähköpostien chatbot-kirjoittaminen selitä kaikkea.