a cesspool of interwebness

Deep-Sixing

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-30 3 comments

This is an older track, but I'm just toying with SoundCloud+Blogger integration for my coffee break, and thought I would see how it works. If you've never checked out this track, take a listen, I like this one almost as much as "Semjase". Kyro - Deep-Sixing by kyro

Wishes, wishes

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-28 7 comments

It's a-me Mario! Fwoooooooosh!

Posted by pseudoRequiem On 2010-12-17 3 comments

Daft TRON

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-16 0 comments

God, I've been DYING to write this, and with the midnight showing of TRON: Legacy tonight, I'm finally able to get it all out!

I've been thoroughly enjoying the music of Daft Punk in the run up to the midnight showing of the film and I can't wait. I thought I should post the "must-have" list of tracks that really show case why getting Daft Punk involved on this project was pure brilliance.

Recognizer (8.4/10)
A brooding track that really lets you know that this isn't going to be your typical garden variety ambient/orchestral blah blah blah soundtrack. The slightly distorted synth backing lines behind the orchestra are wonderful and the big punctuating drums let you know that it's on. When the theme line cuts in around 1:15 you can visualize the excitement.

The Game Has Changed (7.7/10)
The lowest scoring track on my "must have" because I feel it has the lowest re-listen value, but essential because of it's brilliant use of filtering and distortion.  Some very nice back-slipping sequences are used here to great effect.  The orchestral elements used elsewhere in the music are by now recognizable, but still very enjoyable.  As the songs climax begins cooking around 2:06, all you can do is hold on while it begins to build.  The ending leaves you craving just a bit more, but as you progress through the rest of the album you see the longer story being articulated, and you're not disappointed.

Adagio for TRON (8.1/10)
Ever since William Orbit's take on this classical technique I've been in love with the gentle flow of electronic fused pieces performed adagio.  This piece is heartfelt and executed expertly if not surprisingly.  The "fused" elements, an arpeggiation and synth pad, are used tastefully only really surfacing around 2:34 for emphasis.  Of all the songs, this is the only one that felt as though it hearkened back to the organ music used in the original film, a nice touch. A solid must for anybody looking to dig into the feeling of the whole series of tracks.

End of Line (9.4/10)
Okay, now we're into a "track" proper.  This is the kind of thing that hard core Daft Punker's were left craving more of when the soundtrack was released.  I get that.  Great use of layered heavy synths here and the choice of a slow down tempo are merged with highly interesting glitch work.  My main complaint, is that it's not longer, but even with its short playtime, I still love it when this track comes up in my Daft Tron playlist. 

Derezzed (and accompanying video) (9.8/10)
This is by far the most widely recognized song by the casual listener, made famous by the stunning promotional music video released along with it (perhaps more on that later).  If this song didn't make your hair stand on end when you first heard it then you probably didn't spend the three years immediately following the release of the original film dreaming about being in that neon highlighted world  with Tron, Ram and Sark when you were a youngster.  

Solar Sailer (8.3/10)
Another slow moody piece like the Adagio for TRON, but this one free of any conventions and all the better for it.  Not the most complicated song in the list, but one of the most emotionally satisfying.  Because of it's wider sonic pallet and less conventional execution, I found myself scoring it slightly higher than the Adagio.

TRON Legacy (End Titles) (9.5/10)
Delivers the final finishing blow to your mind, soul and body with its super retro acid TB-303 inspired bass/lead line.  It's unbelievable that Daft Punk breaks out an old school sound like this for the end credits, only they would have the balls and talent to pull it off.  At first, I was reluctant to like this song, offended even by the audacity of the 303 squelching, but as the acid line faded into the background and the orchestral theme emerged I was stunned.  This has become one of my favorite tracks of the entire playlist now, second only to Derezzed and is definitely a track you should put on your playlist.


Well, that wraps up my best of TRON: Legacy soundtrack by Daft Punk.  I hope you have a chance to check out these tracks and post any feedback here you might have.  Which track affected you?  Which ones did I miss?

Pay the writer

Posted by Unknown On 2 comments

God Bless Harlan Ellison....
(NSFW for bad language)

It's always the ***hole with the rocket launcher...

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-14 1 comments

Gotta love Lego™

Sheila Fraser for Prime Minister

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-11 1 comments

I'm so in love with this public servant, i pray to God that she has the guts and backing to run for Prime Minister.  Here's a lady that can get shit done.

I love what she's up to right now fixing the office for protecting whistle-blowers.  She rocks.  God bless.

Geek Kids Books

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-10 4 comments

Imagine if some of your favourite sci-fi was re-imagined as kids books...






I can't wait till my little girl is old enough to appreciate this kind of shit!

Cylon Night, Holy Night

Posted by captainorange On 4 comments

I was playing around with my Pentax-A 50mm f2 as we set up our Christmas tree this year and came up with a fine picture

I didn't realize what I had done until I was reviewing my photos the next day. Perhaps not as sexy as Caprica 6 -- but, then again, Wendy and the girls might object if I had her tethered to the tree. 

Now there's an idea...

NZT - The Clear Pill

Posted by Unknown On 3 comments

You guys hear about this new drug yet?



Love the side effects!

Schitt-heads, Get Your Flame On!

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-08 0 comments

Tis the season to get snapped! And then say things you later regret to your friends and family. Well, I say that if you are gonna get flamed, there may as well be some real flames in the mix.

Here is a link to a recipe for festive flaming punch, and I dare you to make it this holiday. And to invite me over to try it...

Season's Greetings!

Corporate Melancholy Stanza

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-07 5 comments

It seems just an empty desk
But really it's a wound
The open floor plan waits for no man
Yet women and men both feel the absence

Soon a different mind will mind that space
And meet the team and smile and learn
And we'll turn the page and build something new
But time takes its due

We eat and play and work and win
Together
We push and pull and learn from one
Another
Collaborate, commiserate, celebrate
The team

And when we lose a mate, the cut is deep
And though we thrive on change
It's always strange
When we see that vacant seat

Share the Great Old Ones with your young ones!

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-06 0 comments

The following article was copied from www.wired.com/geekdad for our amusement purposes only. I recommend this site for any parents in the group, and here's just one good reason why...

5 Ideas To Get Cthulhu into Your Christmas


The holiday season is a time when we all reflect of the important traditions and beliefs that we hold no matter what our religion or creed. So, as an avid fan of H.P.Lovecraft and in the interests of engaging with our readership who spend their days worshipping the Great Old Ones, I’d like to present five ideas for celebrating a Cthulhu Christmas.
Send a Card: But, as we all know the best cards are those we make ourselves and over at GiggedyGeekMom there is an excellent step-by-step blog post ion how to wish your friends and family a safe holiday season with the Great Cthulhu.
Hang a tree ornament: Last year, ThinkGeek offered us Cthulhu Christmas Decorations, and they are still available this year for those interested in a bit of prehistory on the Christmas Tree or mantelpiece. Perfect for when you invite the local Deep Ones over for a drink.
Sing a Cthulhu Carol: Nothing like a rousing rendition to stir the sanity and hail the names of the Great Old Ones. Bring Yog-Sothoth, the Wendigo or even him, yes the Unspeakable right into you living room or out and about on a neighborly caroling jaunt on Christmas eve. The folks at the HP Lovecraft Historical Society have all the lyrics you need.
Invite a Cthulu Elf into your home: Artist Amy Rawson continues her annual tradition of creating a Christmas Cthulhu. (see 2007, 2008, and 2009). She sells her wares through Rawson’s Etsy store.
Give a Gift (and lose some SAN): Of course, smartphones are all the rage and if something is all the rage then we should expect every good alien creature that dwells somewhere in the Pacific is working hard to control the mind and ways of some unsuspecting human and making sure they are a part of it. This is exactly what the Great Cthulhu has done, and you can purchase a Cthulhu Cellphone holder this year for your dearest loved ones.

Coolest Data Farm EVER!!!

Posted by Selbonaut On 2010-12-03 2 comments

Google has nothing on this place. By far the coolest place I have seen in a long time. It is a Data Storage facility in Stockholm.

Source Material

Posted by Unknown On 2010-12-01 4 comments

Hubble Advent Calendar

Posted by Selbonaut On 0 comments

For those of you that love Christmas and Space I bring you the Hubble Advent Calendar, thanks to those great guy's at boston.com

Here is your pic for the first of December... click the link to go right to the site and there is a write up for each of the pics as they are released.