http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/rss orie's latest journal entries Lang-8 Inc. Tue Feb 14 12:54:40 UTC 2012 Tue Feb 14 12:54:40 UTC 2012 Lang-8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Lang-8 Describe six different people, using two descriptive words each: a woman, a man, a boy, a girl, you and me. Ex. The boy is young. The boy is tall.

My text was:
Nainen on nuori ja kaunis. Mies on juopunut ja töykeä. Poika on blondi ja vireä. Tyttö on kiva ja tahdikas. Olet haikea ja syrjäinen. Olen nälkäinen ja raukea

Here is the original:
http://www.livemocha.com/finnish/writing/exercises/11977097

Posted at Thu Feb 04 15:38:09 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/361336 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/361336 orie Thu Feb 04 15:38:09 UTC 2010
I would certainly recommend this book to all Stephen King fans.

There are two parts which I found extremely interesting: short autobiography (Stephen's childhood and early career) and the detailed description of his working process.

The tone of the book is sometimes close to boasting, and some parts are a bit boring (e.g. grammar parts or tips for publishing, which are US-specific). Still, it gives the feeling of intimate conversation which I find very valuable in case of favourite writer.

Besides the "fan" thing, the book may be interesting for all people who do creative work (not only fiction). E.g. he compares writing with dreaming (concentration is important and it's bad when someone disturbs you) - the same metaphor is used in discussion of computer programming.

The language is simple, expressive and good for non-native English readers.

Posted at Sat Jan 09 01:06:22 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/333793 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/333793 orie Sat Jan 09 01:06:22 UTC 2010
Here are some notes on it.

My most remarkable impression:
This feeling of business closely connected to people's life. When an
old lady was forced to sell her restaurant, I almost cried - she spent
all her life managing the place, it looked as if her soul was in it.
The staff also worked there for years, it was the place where no one
is getting fired, ever. I was afraid that the manager would die from
heart attack the day after new owner moved in.

What seemed strange to me:
Relationship between the married couple. They look very unemotional
and almost never talk. It looks like their marriage is very unromantic
- there are no hugs, and even when they kiss it's more like brother
and sister type. But still, they never shout at each other, never
blame each other when the situation is bad, even if there is a reason
for shouting. They understand each other's feelings very good without
words. Their marriage looks very stable and comforting. I am somehow
inclined to think that when people lose sexual drive, they become mad
at each other and their relationship collapses. This movie gives
another view of marriage, more optimistic, and it looks like a relief
for me.

On genre:
It is a realistic movie about losing job and coping with it. It is
gives many details of everyday routines. Although this details are
remarkable, the plot is rather boring. At the end you feel a bit
disappointed by the lack of events. And they are all damn serious, no
sense of humor at all. It is more like a documentary which gives the
view of Helsinki of those years, not a fiction with entertaining plot.

General impression:
Favorable. I voted 8 of 10. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes European non-action slow movies with something to think about.

Posted at Thu Sep 24 20:05:57 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/243814 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/243814 orie Thu Sep 24 20:05:57 UTC 2009
Ich heiße Olga. Ich lebe in Sankt-Petersburg, Rußland. Ich bin 29 Jahre alt. Ich wohne mit meinem Freund (Boyfriend). Ich habe einen Sohn, er heißt Peter. Er ist 3 Jahre alt.

Ich arbeite in der IT Branche. Für Arbeit schreibe ich Texte über Software.

Ich habe Deutsch in der Schule studiert, aber habe vieles vergessen.

Am 3. August gehen wir nach Wien, Österreich. Ich möchte Deutsch errinern, vielleicht werde ich es dort sprachen.

Posted at Fri Jul 24 21:11:05 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/199572 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/199572 orie Fri Jul 24 21:11:05 UTC 2009
We are going to Vienne, Austria on Aug 3 - Aug 9. My lang-8 will be in German for some time. See you again!

Posted at Fri Jul 24 19:50:38 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/199561 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/199561 orie Fri Jul 24 19:50:38 UTC 2009
Posted at Wed Jul 22 23:05:08 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/198250 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/198250 orie Wed Jul 22 23:05:08 UTC 2009
Se on minun poika. Hänen nimeni on Petya (Petteri). Hän on kolmevuotias.

Posted at Tue Jul 21 15:25:55 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/197251 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/197251 orie Tue Jul 21 15:25:55 UTC 2009
I invented this exercise to learn the word "suuri". The idea is to invent 5 simple phrases with this word. Please correct grammar (endings) and usage (unnatural expressions).

1. Miehet pitävät suurit koskat
2. Pidän suurit kauppat
3. Mikael on minun suuri ystävä (a good friend of mine)
4. Tiikeri on suuri kissa
5. En pidä työpäivän suurten yritys

Posted at Mon Jul 20 22:52:11 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/196667 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/196667 orie Mon Jul 20 22:52:11 UTC 2009 Minä olen Olga Yermishkina
Minä olen venäläinen
Minä asun Venäjällä
Minä asun Pietarissa
Minä puhun venäjää, englantia, saksaa ja vähän suomea ja ranskaa
Minä olen 29-vuotias
Minä olen naimisissa
Minulla on yksy lapsi

Posted at Thu Jul 02 19:46:20 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/184440 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/184440 orie Thu Jul 02 19:46:20 UTC 2009
I created this text for one international forum. If you see any mistakes in my English, please correct:

I am from Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
I am staying in Helsinki on July 3 - July 5.
I would like to meet someone who lives in Helsinki over a cup of tea and practice my (still very poor) Finnish.
If you would like to, please reply to this post and I'll contact you.

It also would be nice you can recommend me interesting events during my stay.
I checked the groups google calendar, but it looks as if there's nothing planned during these days.

I am new to group and perhaps missed something important in rules or events. If there's something wrong with my request please tell ;)

Posted at Tue Jun 30 12:59:44 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/182819 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/182819 orie Tue Jun 30 12:59:44 UTC 2009
I want to make such a T-shirt and wear it during my trip to Helsinki.
(1) does it look stupid to you? :)
(2) is it gramatically correct?
(3) should I write "hei" instead of "päivä?
(4) can you make it any shorter, please?

Posted at Tue Jun 23 11:24:40 UTC 2009
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/178012 http://www.lang-8.com/45232/journals/178012 orie Tue Jun 23 11:24:40 UTC 2009