a cesspool of interwebness

The New Identitiez

Posted by Unknown On 2012-02-24 3 comments

For reasons that don't matter to anybody but me, the moniker "Kyro" is headed for an end. It was a fine alias for 10 years, but I'm ready to switch to something a little closer to the vest, namely Djaii which is phonically identical to my actual name, but employs a silent 'D' like in Djinni and implies 'DJ' which I (used to) do.

Right, so, what about that music stuff? What about the film work?

Well, there are two aliases that I'll be using for music, one that will follow my new primary moniker "Djaii" and one that is... well even more unconventional.

The Kyro identities on SoundCloud and CCMixter are gone, in favor of this identity on SoundCloud:

Latest tracks by Djaii

Also on SoundCloud, I'll maintain a new Möbius Entendre identity which is for the weird stuff, like Exploration #4 and my newer ambient productions. When doing sound for video (other than actual sound foley work for my film group HALF DAMAGE) I'll post it here also:

Latest tracks by möbius entendre

You will also notice that my email address is going to change. You'll still be able to email me at my kyro address, but replies will start coming from 23 djaii (again a gmail addy). Finally, I'll have a unified identity across SoundCloud, Twitter and our Blog. Email me if you've got questions, the old email address will work for a while yet).

Truth behind Facebook

Posted by Selbonaut On 2012-02-15 3 comments

Choose Your Resort Carefully

Posted by Unknown On 2012-01-29 0 comments

Don't go to the Grand Sirenis in the Riviera Maya.

Please read the post here.

... and then go vote on TripAdvisor here.

(just please click the YES button beside the "was this helpful?" indicator)

Two things about this situation really piss me off:
1 - I don't care what country it is, you don't treat women like this, and you fucking follow up with major repercussions if it does. Like jail for the asshole, let alone the fact he should be fired on the spot.
2 - Shit like this makes those of us that had a good time in Mexico question our experience and wonder if we can go back. We had a great time there, could this have happened to my daughter?

Bill C11

Posted by Unknown On 3 comments

This is as close to caring about elections as I get

Posted by pseudoRequiem On 2012-01-27 0 comments

Prophetic Poetry

Posted by Selbonaut On 2012-01-23 2 comments

Yet more caffiene options

Posted by ScrewLoose On 2012-01-06 2 comments

I'm willing to bet most of us have some form of caffeine addiction. Now there is an option for the laziest caffeine addict. Screw drinking caffeinated beverages like a chump, no more swallowing caffeine pills for that late night cram session, no more gnashing at caffeinated gum, begone with the sucking of caffeinated mints. BEHOLD THE FUTURE IS HERE AEROSHOTS. Yes now all you need to get your buzz on is the ability to BREATHE.

I have no doubt some kid will die huffing 50 of these but we need to thin the herd somehow.

Bad PR goes Viral

Posted by Unknown On 2012-01-04 3 comments

This one requires some reading, but it's an important object lesson. It's got an angle featuring one of the Penny Arcade dudes (Gabe specifically) which is why I think it ties into our content here.

  1. Start here on 1up
  2. To see some of the original email content with come commentary, you can read it here
  3. To wrap it up, please read the article here on Forbes

The dude from Ocean Marketing is clearly out of control.
I'm particularly fond of the following closing statements in the Forbes article:


"In that sense, it’s more like somebody who works at an MMA organisation meeting a world MMA champion in a bar and failing to recognise them, despite the MMA champion identifying himself by name as they squared off."

In case you missed the link in the earlier articles, the full email thread is up on Penny-Arcade here

On a lighter note....

Posted by pseudoRequiem On 2011-12-22 2 comments

The lovely lady and I went to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo yesterday and I have to say that I found the experience to be 90% enjoyable. And that's not to say that any part of the show was bad, but there were a few parts where I found myself not just shifting in my seat but the best way to put it would be writhing.

Having not read the books before hand, I found much of the story-line to be twisted and unexpected. My fiance absolutely loved the show despite knowing the entire plot beforehand. I attribute this to the movie being a very accurate portrayal of the book itself, as attested by her, and from a stellar performance from both of the lead characters Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara.

Another big thing I noticed during this show that I haven't seen in any movie for quite some time is pace change and not just between scenes. I've been shown the graph of what makes a good story. You may have seen it being discussed on Extra Credits and I found, when examining the movie afterwards that it was very similar to this. That may be an over-evaluation but here's the bottom line. I was never bored once. I refuse to say anything specific about the show in case you, like me, haven't read the books(I plan to now). I was worried that they would ruin the story by making it 'Hollywood' and the inclusion of Daniel Craig, I'll admit, was initially a worry for me. Thankfully, it appears as if Mr. Bond can convincingly play a helpless down on his luck victim just as well as an untouchable secret agent. And I won't spoil a thing about Rooney Mara's performance.

This one is definitely a theater watch recommend. A warning though, the sex/violence in this one is well balanced but extremely graphic at times. By balanced, I mean there are many opportunities for it to be gratuitous, but it only is when it needs to be. I praise the director, David Fincher for deciding that it was enough to hear teeth hitting the ground rather than showing them(in slow motion or something foolish like that). Great respect for the material and the overall tone.

It's always too soon....

Posted by pseudoRequiem On 1 comments

for shit like this


I'm a little sick that this exists.

You know your games if...

Posted by pseudoRequiem On 2011-12-16 4 comments

you understand all these references. :)

SWTOR Launch

Posted by Bairen On 2011-12-12 2 comments

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

If you have been talking to me lately, you know I'm looking forward to Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Well Launch day approaches and I would like to invite all those that are wanting to play this join up on the same server.

I am a part of Midnight Squadron. You can sign up and become part of our gaming clan at : http://www.midnightsquadron.com

We will be launching into the game on the server: Port Nowhere
It is a PvP server.

I haven't picked a character name yet, but contact me and we can all join up. Playing with Friends is the best option in an MMO.

Looking foward to seeing you in game!

Tech Company Bans Internal Emails

Posted by Selbonaut On 2011-12-06 1 comments

This is a very interesting article about a tech firm called Atos that is banning internal emails by the end of 2012. I really like the logic that they are using for why they are doing it. I am not sure how it is going to work out for them, but best of luck to them.


In short, internal email is a waste of time.

Hard to believe...

Posted by Selbonaut On 0 comments

There are still cool things coming out of Star Wars fan stuff. I know you are thinking Cello's are lame, but you really should check out the video, the sound is great, and the video is clever.



This might be old, but it is new to me.

An antidote to Black Friday: Barry Levinson's Avalon (1990)

Posted by Unknown On 2011-11-26 0 comments

Checkout this great post on a blog I follow, "The Reaction".

Dork Tower

Posted by Unknown On 2011-11-25 1 comments

From the above, I am Aragorn, an Intrepid-Class Scout ship,  and then the rest is pure gobble-de-gook!

Movember

Posted by Selbonaut On 2011-11-18 3 comments

I have often wondered the connection between mustaches and prostate cancer. Penny Arcade here has offered up the reason, though I am not sure how sound the argument is. Comments!!!

Timesplitters N?

Posted by Unknown On 2011-11-13 0 comments

(lifted in part from www.computerandvideogames.com)

TIMESPLITTERS 4
The last game in this series was TimeSplitters: Future Perfect which released in 2005. Six years is a long time to be waiting for a sequel so we reckon the gaming world is ready for the series to make a return on the current generation of consoles. We loved TimeSplitters for its fast-paced, arcade style action and really just the fact that it didn't take itself too seriously, which is a nice contrast to the current crop of realistic, modern shooters.

We particularly liked additions such as 'Robo-pussy' - a remote control cat that you could drive around. More fun and crazy ideas like this would be welcome in the sequel. Another great thing about TimeSplitters it that because it's not constrained to one time, it allows the player to wield a large variety of weapons from many different time periods, making the gun-play certainly more interesting.


It is rumoured that Crytek is currently working on a new game in TimeSplitters series, with the intention of releasing it on next-generation consoles. Supposedly the title will take advantage of CryEngine 3 and DirectX 11 tech. We're not sure if it will actually be TimeSplitters 4 or just a spin-off, however. Still, it's exciting to hear of any news regarding TimeSplitters and the sooner a new one comes out, the better.

Also - HD monkeys. That is all!

Lest We Forget

Posted by Unknown On 2011-11-11 1 comments


In the day to day tedium, frustration and excitement it is easy to forget that all of it occurs within the domain of a freedom that others paid for with their lives. Here on GnoSchitt we have the grandest of personal luxuries: the right to say and think whatever we want*.

* within the limits of human rights and decency



On Remembrance Day, I find I'm often moved to tears. I'm not crying because I have stories of great personal loss from the Great Wars (or conflicts thereafter). From what I understand one of my grandfathers drove a supply or equipment truck in the second world war. I didn't know him very well and he died before I was old enough to understand what the whole thing meant. I never had a chance to talk to him about it. I'm moved to tears by the realization that I have so much to be utterly thankful for because of the great selfless sacrifice of thousands of people who's names I'll never know.

For the last three or four years I have watched the CBC Rememberance Service from Ottawa. The first time I watched that service I was surprised at the age of the remaining veterans. Has it been that long? During the service they spoke of the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier".



So the story goes, when this new memorial was unveiled in 2000, the crowd in attendance spontaneously began leaving their poppies behind on the tomb as they left the service that cold November morning. This has become a bona fide tradition now with thousand upon thousands of poppies left on the memorial site as the crowds in attendance pay their respects to the men and women of those wars. As I've gotten older, I've come to understand what their motivations might be. Indeed in many ways I think I feel the same. I feel gloriously Canadian: deep sadness that we have need to go to war mixed with thankfulness that we have fought so valiantly.

This had led me to add a few important things to my personal bucket list, I genuinely hope I'm able to plan the following two excursions before it's been too long:

A Trip to Vimy Ridge
Attendance at the Ottawa Remembrance Service with an option to be standing here in the Canadian War Museum at 11am if we cannot get onto the grounds for the outdoor service.

I would gladly plan either of these events with others if they feel similarly inclined.

           Lest we forget