Yeah, I know it's a little late, but here are my top ten lists for 2008
Top 10 Video Games (all formats)
There are many games that maybe should be on this list, but I simply haven't played them so can't make judgement.
1. Fallout 3
2. Fifa 2009
3. Left 4 Dead
4. GTA IV
5. Saints Row 2
6. Grid
7. Fable 2
8. Civilization Revolution
9. NHL 09
10. Braid
Top 10 CDs
Again, these are CDs I've listened to / own / reviewed.
1. The Bamboos - Side Stepper
2. Baobinga & ID - Big Monster
3. CW Stoneking - Jungle Blues
4. The Heavy - Great Vengeance and Furious Fire
5. Sharon Jones & Dap Kings - 100 days, 100 nights
6. Downsyde - All City
7. Belleruche - The Express
8. Mr Scruff - Ninja Tuna
9. Primal Scream - Beautiful Future
10. DubXanne - Police in Dub
Monday, 5 January 2009
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Another year been and gone!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and all that.
My Christmas was pretty much a debacle, again.
I wanted to have Christmas with my mum and my aunt Laurine (her real sister) and my blood cousins.
On the hour long train ride to Gawler to meet my mum, who now lives in Saddleworth, my 4 year old reliable companion, my iPod, decides to die.
As an aside I also think it was stolen from my bag at the airport - but sucks to be them for getting a broken ipod!
Going on the old train line to Gawler Central brought back a load of memories - it's one I used to be intimately familiar with - but I was amazed at the amount of change that has occurred in the last 10 years too.
On the way to Ardrossan my mum tells me my cousins won't be coming... which annoys me no end as I could have caught up with my other family instead! So I had Xmas with my mum, my aunt, and my aunt's crazy friends - all about 60 years old and with whom I had nothing in common with. They were nice people, but still, I obviously would have preferred to be elsewhere.
I stayed at mums on Xmas Day eve, and the next day she went to drive me back to Gawler so I could catch the train back to Adelaide. She had little petrol, so we did the normal thing and went to the petrol station. However, the petrol station had no petrol either, and wasn't expecting the trucks to arrive until Mid morning. And the nearest petrol station was too far away to risk driving to, because there would have been a good chance it would have been closed for the boxing day holiday...
Worse still, I had to be back in the city by midday for what I consider my REAL Xmas celebrations - the ones with my friends from school, the ones we do every year with this year being even more special as one of whom was back from the USA and another over from WA...
Luckily the one bus which runs every two days from Far North SA to Adelaide just happened to be coming at the same time in the morning - If I had chosen to go any earlier or later I would have been stuck in Saddleworth.
I got on the bus, paid $20 and arrived 2 hours later in the city, then had another half hour trip to where I was staying...
Then, when I went to Stef's house for that Xmas, the Metroticket people who I had phoned earlier to enquire about buses told me the wrong number, and I had to walk for about 20 minutes from the wrong road to the right road!
Luckily, the rest of my trip to Adelaide was fucking awesome.
Renee & Paul's wedding was splendid, and I met a really nice girl there too! We went out again after that, and had heaps of fun with her and her crazy workmates. It was weird being in Adelaide and hanging out with a bunch of people I didn't know at all, but heaps of fun at the same time.
I also cuaght up with pretty much everyone I wanted to catch up with at Summer Break - lots of people I didn't expect to be there were there. It was awesome drinking, dancing and chatting with friends there.
That's my only issue with Melbourne - I don't have a regular crew here. There's a few guys from work I hang out with, but they're not as passionate as I am about music and gigs. So I always go out by myself - which I don't mind - but sometimes it would be nice to have friends here who had the same passion for music and gigs like I did in Adelaide.
My Christmas was pretty much a debacle, again.
I wanted to have Christmas with my mum and my aunt Laurine (her real sister) and my blood cousins.
On the hour long train ride to Gawler to meet my mum, who now lives in Saddleworth, my 4 year old reliable companion, my iPod, decides to die.
As an aside I also think it was stolen from my bag at the airport - but sucks to be them for getting a broken ipod!
Going on the old train line to Gawler Central brought back a load of memories - it's one I used to be intimately familiar with - but I was amazed at the amount of change that has occurred in the last 10 years too.
On the way to Ardrossan my mum tells me my cousins won't be coming... which annoys me no end as I could have caught up with my other family instead! So I had Xmas with my mum, my aunt, and my aunt's crazy friends - all about 60 years old and with whom I had nothing in common with. They were nice people, but still, I obviously would have preferred to be elsewhere.
I stayed at mums on Xmas Day eve, and the next day she went to drive me back to Gawler so I could catch the train back to Adelaide. She had little petrol, so we did the normal thing and went to the petrol station. However, the petrol station had no petrol either, and wasn't expecting the trucks to arrive until Mid morning. And the nearest petrol station was too far away to risk driving to, because there would have been a good chance it would have been closed for the boxing day holiday...
Worse still, I had to be back in the city by midday for what I consider my REAL Xmas celebrations - the ones with my friends from school, the ones we do every year with this year being even more special as one of whom was back from the USA and another over from WA...
Luckily the one bus which runs every two days from Far North SA to Adelaide just happened to be coming at the same time in the morning - If I had chosen to go any earlier or later I would have been stuck in Saddleworth.
I got on the bus, paid $20 and arrived 2 hours later in the city, then had another half hour trip to where I was staying...
Then, when I went to Stef's house for that Xmas, the Metroticket people who I had phoned earlier to enquire about buses told me the wrong number, and I had to walk for about 20 minutes from the wrong road to the right road!
Luckily, the rest of my trip to Adelaide was fucking awesome.
Renee & Paul's wedding was splendid, and I met a really nice girl there too! We went out again after that, and had heaps of fun with her and her crazy workmates. It was weird being in Adelaide and hanging out with a bunch of people I didn't know at all, but heaps of fun at the same time.
I also cuaght up with pretty much everyone I wanted to catch up with at Summer Break - lots of people I didn't expect to be there were there. It was awesome drinking, dancing and chatting with friends there.
That's my only issue with Melbourne - I don't have a regular crew here. There's a few guys from work I hang out with, but they're not as passionate as I am about music and gigs. So I always go out by myself - which I don't mind - but sometimes it would be nice to have friends here who had the same passion for music and gigs like I did in Adelaide.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Writing letters again
GOD DAMN IT!
I'm meant to be playing videogames, not writing to letters to clueless fucks about them.
After watching this YouTube video, I had to write a letter to YMA - people who, incidentally didn't hire me, because I confessed to liking videogames in my interview. Obviously it's an organisation that doesn't value truth and integrity...
I also wrote to Mick Atkinson for his stupid decision to not support a public consultion on videogames getting an R18+ rating, which he has since renegged on... flipflop out of office, Achyface!
*sigh*
I recently heard the word "Kindargarchy", defined as:
Because I AM thinking of the children.
I'm arguing for their right to be treated as adults and be able to speak, read, see and play what they like when they are older.
I'm meant to be playing videogames, not writing to letters to clueless fucks about them.
After watching this YouTube video, I had to write a letter to YMA - people who, incidentally didn't hire me, because I confessed to liking videogames in my interview. Obviously it's an organisation that doesn't value truth and integrity...
Dear Sir or Madam
Recently on the ABCs Stateline program, your representative said "the interactive aspect of video games heightens the effect [of desensitisation of violence]"
Please show me ONE properly conducted, long term, scientifically proven, peer reveiwed report where the interactive nature of videogames has a greater effect of aggression in Children than any other media.
Apart from Craig Anderson's "research" (paid by the NIMF so about as "unbiased" and "scientific" as an report refuting climate change by a Mobil scientist - he's been discredited numerous times) every single search I have conducted reveals either a non-correlation, or even negative correlation. For example The BBFC discovered:
with the head of the BBFC saying "We were particularly interested to see that this research suggests that, far from having a potentially negative impact on the reaction of the player, the very fact that they have to interact with the game seems to keep them more firmly rooted in reality. People who do not play games raise concerns about their engrossing nature, assuming that players are also emotionally engrossed. This research suggests the opposite; a range of factors seems to make them less emotionally involving than film or television."
- gamers appear to forget they are playing games less readily than film goers forget they are watching a film because they have to participate in the game for it to proceed. They appear to non-games players to be engrossed in what they are doing, but, they are concentrating on making progress, and are unlikely to be emotionally involved;
- violence in games, in the sense of eliminating obstacles, is built into the structure of some games and is necessary to progress through the game. It contributes to the tension because gamers are not just shooting, they are vulnerable to being shot and most gamers are concentrating on their own survival rather than the damage they are inflicting on the characters in the game. While there is an appeal in being able to be violent without being vulnerable to the consequences which similar actions in real life would create, gamers are aware that they are playing a game and that it is not real life;
Dr. Cheryl Olson, author of the book Grand Theft Childhood says "The biggest fear of clinicians and the public alike—that violent video games turn ordinary children and adolescents into violent people in the real world—is not borne out by the data. Analyses of school shooting incidents from the US Secret Service5 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime6 do not support a link between violent games and real-world attacks".
So, I'd like to ask why your organisation keeps peddling this mis-truths about videogames to the media?
I'm not going to argue the media has no effect on people - it has even been found that scriptural violence sanctioned by God can increase aggression in people. But I wonder, does your organisation rail against people taking children to Church or exposing them to Christian music and film as much as they do against videogames??
I also wrote to Mick Atkinson for his stupid decision to not support a public consultion on videogames getting an R18+ rating, which he has since renegged on... flipflop out of office, Achyface!
Dear Mr Atkinson,I'm also drafting a letter to Stephen Conroy, Minister for Communication, for his moronic decision to make isps filter internet traffic.
I would like to know why you have withdrawn your support for a discussion paper and public consultation process about the R18+ rating for videogames in Australia.
I understand your position on videogames and know quite a few people in the wider community share those views. I happen to think the evidence used to support your and similar views is circumstantial, and not backed up by proper scientific nor social research.
However, I know that no matter how well reasoned my arguments I will not change your view. But that is why we live in a democracy; we are allowed to have opposing views and are allowed to express them publicly, no matter how misinformed they may be.
However, the point of this letter is to understand why your support of the public consultation of this matter has suddenly been pulled, especially in light of the draft material you have received.
Can you please help me to understand why you think you are allowed to express and enforce your views on this matter, but feel that ordinary Australians should have no say whatsoever?
Labor's website reads: "we believe that a nation should be governed in the broader interests of all, not in the sectional interests of a few" and yet here you are, denying Australians a right to be involved in an important debate on censorship and ratings for reasons which are hitherto unfathomable.
It seems to go totally against the democratic processes of this country and moreover against the principles of the Labor party, and completely contradicts the notions of fairness and equality, the belief in "a fair go for all", the underpinnings of the Labor Party.
I look forward to your reply.
*sigh*
I recently heard the word "Kindargarchy", defined as:
a society increasingly dominated by the needs of children, or rather by the extraordinarily inflated needs we have come to attribute to them.And it's so apt! I'm sick of these people screaming "won't someone think of the children!" when destroying our rights as human beings and the future of these children.
Because I AM thinking of the children.
I'm arguing for their right to be treated as adults and be able to speak, read, see and play what they like when they are older.
Monday, 27 October 2008
Yeah, well I'm a bad blogger, ok?
Yeah, I know I'm a bad blogger.
Because I don't blog about crap that doesn't matter, like feelings and shit, I don't really have much to say. And I could get worked up over a million things, but I can't be fucked any more. All the ranting and complaining about the world won't change it, so I don't bother to comment on it any more.
Even on forums and such where normally I'll be attacking this or defending that, I can't be bothered so much any more. It wastes time and drains my mind energy, or some shit.
If you really want to know what I've been saying about this or that, you can check up on me on the Gawker network, as I comment on their stories quite regularly... Also I'm still writing / reviewing for inthemix, xboxworld and now Time Out Sydney so read them too.
As to what's been happening - well, I got promoted for one - now I'm assistant producer. It's a lot different to QA Lead - I don't have to work late much. In fact, I don't play the game as much, either.
I had a DJ gig at Bimbo Deluxe the other week which went really well, and I'm hoping to get another soon.
I saw Stevie Wonder last week. It was absolutely amazing. Then I saw Roy Ayers, who was also very good.
And that's about it for this update...
Expect the next one in a few months :p
Because I don't blog about crap that doesn't matter, like feelings and shit, I don't really have much to say. And I could get worked up over a million things, but I can't be fucked any more. All the ranting and complaining about the world won't change it, so I don't bother to comment on it any more.
Even on forums and such where normally I'll be attacking this or defending that, I can't be bothered so much any more. It wastes time and drains my mind energy, or some shit.
If you really want to know what I've been saying about this or that, you can check up on me on the Gawker network, as I comment on their stories quite regularly... Also I'm still writing / reviewing for inthemix, xboxworld and now Time Out Sydney so read them too.
As to what's been happening - well, I got promoted for one - now I'm assistant producer. It's a lot different to QA Lead - I don't have to work late much. In fact, I don't play the game as much, either.
I had a DJ gig at Bimbo Deluxe the other week which went really well, and I'm hoping to get another soon.
I saw Stevie Wonder last week. It was absolutely amazing. Then I saw Roy Ayers, who was also very good.
And that's about it for this update...
Expect the next one in a few months :p
Friday, 5 September 2008
Been busy!
Yep, ok, so it's a long time between posts, but lets take stock of the situation...
My landlord's garden is dying because I haven't had time to water. My dishes from last weekend are in the sink. I haven't cooked my own dinner in a week, and any left over food is going off.
I've got 3 games to review, 6 CDs (mind you, 3 are singles) and I've only played one game and listened to the albums maybe twice each. Haven't even copied the singles to my ipod yet...
I paid for 3 months for Age of Conan and have played in once in the last month. I got Spore and have played it for maybe 2 hours.
I haven't been to a club in months, nor taken any pictures at any events.
AND
It's 7:30 on a Friday night and I'm still at work, waiting for a build... It takes about an hour to play through all the modes, once. And I'm working on one day of the weekend again.
Yes, I'm aware it's close to ZBR (zero bugs recorded) and that means it's crunchtime, but I've been working 12-14 hour days for the last 2 weeks now... still getting bugs!
And no doubt fuckhead reviewers and internet chat room cunts are going to diss our game because it introduces Avatars and tries to make the xbox more friendlier to a wider audience.
My landlord's garden is dying because I haven't had time to water. My dishes from last weekend are in the sink. I haven't cooked my own dinner in a week, and any left over food is going off.
I've got 3 games to review, 6 CDs (mind you, 3 are singles) and I've only played one game and listened to the albums maybe twice each. Haven't even copied the singles to my ipod yet...
I paid for 3 months for Age of Conan and have played in once in the last month. I got Spore and have played it for maybe 2 hours.
I haven't been to a club in months, nor taken any pictures at any events.
AND
It's 7:30 on a Friday night and I'm still at work, waiting for a build... It takes about an hour to play through all the modes, once. And I'm working on one day of the weekend again.
Yes, I'm aware it's close to ZBR (zero bugs recorded) and that means it's crunchtime, but I've been working 12-14 hour days for the last 2 weeks now... still getting bugs!
And no doubt fuckhead reviewers and internet chat room cunts are going to diss our game because it introduces Avatars and tries to make the xbox more friendlier to a wider audience.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
To all my friends in the Labor party...
To all my friends in the Labor party:
Lee Stevens, Mike Stevens, Nick Champion, Brigid Mahoney, Lee Odenwalder, Lisa Johnstone, Simon Lees, Brear Adams, Simon Flower, and others...
(Yes, I'm calling you all out!)
Please, please, please tell your fucked up leader Kevin Rudd to pull his stupid head out of his arse and stop acting like an opposition politician.
His antics over the green paper are the height of stupidity and foolishness.
He wants Australians to take Climate Change seriously, be willing to accept the pain it will bring, but when he releases what will be the most significant document of his career surrounding the most important issue of the decade, he goes and locks the Liberals and Greens out of the meeting, meaning they will have less time to respond.
How fucking childish, ignorant and selfish can someone be?
As you know, I don't have the greatest understanding of Australian Politics, but I thought that Krudd would have at least wanted to get the outcome of the paper through the Senate.
By locking the Greens and Liberals out of this very important decision making process, he's given them a reason to block the passage of the legislation through the Senate.
So, how is this being serious about Climate Change?
It's obvious Krudd has a half cocked plan that he knows won't get anywhere, so he's just decided to play politics to keep his newspoll results above 70%.
Can someone please inform him THE ELECTION IS OVER? And no one except politicians and journalists even care about those bullshit meters anyway!
He's acting exactly like John Howard, the person you all worked so damned hard to get out of power.
Krudd is not leading on these issues, he's being a politician playing the game, and it's simply not good enough.
I voted for Labor because I wanted change. I wanted a leader who would LEAD. Someone who would take the high road, and make hard decisions. Someone who would work with others to achieve the goals and objectives needed to steer Australia in the right direction, including other political parties.
And come on guys - I've grown up with you. I've talked and raved and ranted and marched and protested with you. I know who you are and what you believe in and what is important to you.
So why are you letting Krudd act like this? Don't you go to countless conferences and party room meetings and dinners and talkfests where these things are planned and discussed? Don't you point out how backwards this kind of mentality is?
Or is the Labor party so entrenched in 20th century thinking that it is as useless as the Liberal Party into leading Australia into the 21st Century?
and I won't even bother to tell you what I think about his pathetic, dickless stance on naked children in photography and art...
Lee Stevens, Mike Stevens, Nick Champion, Brigid Mahoney, Lee Odenwalder, Lisa Johnstone, Simon Lees, Brear Adams, Simon Flower, and others...
(Yes, I'm calling you all out!)
Please, please, please tell your fucked up leader Kevin Rudd to pull his stupid head out of his arse and stop acting like an opposition politician.
His antics over the green paper are the height of stupidity and foolishness.
He wants Australians to take Climate Change seriously, be willing to accept the pain it will bring, but when he releases what will be the most significant document of his career surrounding the most important issue of the decade, he goes and locks the Liberals and Greens out of the meeting, meaning they will have less time to respond.
How fucking childish, ignorant and selfish can someone be?
As you know, I don't have the greatest understanding of Australian Politics, but I thought that Krudd would have at least wanted to get the outcome of the paper through the Senate.
By locking the Greens and Liberals out of this very important decision making process, he's given them a reason to block the passage of the legislation through the Senate.
So, how is this being serious about Climate Change?
It's obvious Krudd has a half cocked plan that he knows won't get anywhere, so he's just decided to play politics to keep his newspoll results above 70%.
Can someone please inform him THE ELECTION IS OVER? And no one except politicians and journalists even care about those bullshit meters anyway!
He's acting exactly like John Howard, the person you all worked so damned hard to get out of power.
Krudd is not leading on these issues, he's being a politician playing the game, and it's simply not good enough.
I voted for Labor because I wanted change. I wanted a leader who would LEAD. Someone who would take the high road, and make hard decisions. Someone who would work with others to achieve the goals and objectives needed to steer Australia in the right direction, including other political parties.
And come on guys - I've grown up with you. I've talked and raved and ranted and marched and protested with you. I know who you are and what you believe in and what is important to you.
So why are you letting Krudd act like this? Don't you go to countless conferences and party room meetings and dinners and talkfests where these things are planned and discussed? Don't you point out how backwards this kind of mentality is?
Or is the Labor party so entrenched in 20th century thinking that it is as useless as the Liberal Party into leading Australia into the 21st Century?
and I won't even bother to tell you what I think about his pathetic, dickless stance on naked children in photography and art...
Friday, 11 July 2008
R18+ in videogames and why we will never see it.
A lot of people blame Michael Atkinson's stance on videogames, and he is the only AG who went against the popular vote, and claims that he will again.
But something else I discovered about the process of ratings.
Here is the Classifications and Community Standards report from 2007
This is compiled by Galaxy research to determine if people believe ratings are working and are fair.
Here you can see exactly how many people are polled to see if Australia's classifications are up to community Standards.
I'll spell it out to you - 1,516
1,516 people determine the position of the 7 Attorney Generals when it comes to things like what should be rated, how it should be rated, what kind of ratings should be included, and those 7 AGs then go and make laws based on these findings.
1,516.
There are over 21 MILLION people in Australia.
1,516 is not even 1% of the population!
And to top it all off, these bastards have the nerve to go and say it's only "a vocal minority" want an R18+ rating for games.
Last time I counted, 3,708 (the amount polled for the widely quoted statistic that 88% of people want and R18+ rating for games) was greater than 1,516.
But something else I discovered about the process of ratings.
Here is the Classifications and Community Standards report from 2007
This is compiled by Galaxy research to determine if people believe ratings are working and are fair.
Here you can see exactly how many people are polled to see if Australia's classifications are up to community Standards.
I'll spell it out to you - 1,516
1,516 people determine the position of the 7 Attorney Generals when it comes to things like what should be rated, how it should be rated, what kind of ratings should be included, and those 7 AGs then go and make laws based on these findings.
1,516.
There are over 21 MILLION people in Australia.
1,516 is not even 1% of the population!
And to top it all off, these bastards have the nerve to go and say it's only "a vocal minority" want an R18+ rating for games.
Last time I counted, 3,708 (the amount polled for the widely quoted statistic that 88% of people want and R18+ rating for games) was greater than 1,516.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
In Sydney? Look for me in Time Out!
If anyone reading this is in Sydney, be sure to pick up Time Out magazine as I'm now writing game reviews for them.
My first review will be of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
My first review will be of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
More trouble for Myki?
It appears researchers in London have cracked the Tube's new ticketing system.
At the heart of [the] card is the Mifare chip, made by Philips spin-off NXP.Given that Melbourne's Myki is probably a very similar technology, could that mean all the money they've already spent on Myki is a waste?
Designed in the 1990s before processors of that size could handle strong encryption, Mifare has suffered at least three published cracks, according to security experts who have urged TfL to upgrade the system. (link)
Monday, 23 June 2008
Portishead Interview!
For those who don't know, I managed to score an exclusive interview with Portishead.
I chatted to Adrian Utley about a range of things and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
No, unfortunately I didn't get to speak to Beth, she still doesn't speak to the media.
But you're welcome to read it on inthemix.com.au and I may even put the audio up online soon, which contains Adrian discussing Public Enemy and a whole lot more besides.
I chatted to Adrian Utley about a range of things and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
No, unfortunately I didn't get to speak to Beth, she still doesn't speak to the media.
But you're welcome to read it on inthemix.com.au and I may even put the audio up online soon, which contains Adrian discussing Public Enemy and a whole lot more besides.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Science sucks!
The current trend of media reporting on science experiments as fact about the entire population is really starting to annoy me.
What I want to know is why 14,000 out of 21 Million people is an OK sample size to determine that Australia is a nation of fatties? (source)
Why 13 people out of 6 Billion is an OK sample size to see that brain patterns are different when playing games? (source)
Why 21 people out of 6 billion is an OK sample size to determine that marijuana shrinks brains? (source)
It's ridiculous! The sample sizes are so small that it makes the reports questionable, if not thoroughly erroneous.
It's like looking at the moon and determining all moons are like that. Yes, we used to think that when we could only see our moon, but now we've got the technology we look at more moons and find that a lot of what we used to think about moons is wrong.
When looking at humans, we've got every opportunity to look at millions more than we do now.
So why are we looking at a mere handful and saying "they're representative of the 6 billion of us here", and worse still, bringing in policies and laws to restrict those 6 billion based on not even 1% of that population?
What I want to know is why 14,000 out of 21 Million people is an OK sample size to determine that Australia is a nation of fatties? (source)
Why 13 people out of 6 Billion is an OK sample size to see that brain patterns are different when playing games? (source)
Why 21 people out of 6 billion is an OK sample size to determine that marijuana shrinks brains? (source)
It's ridiculous! The sample sizes are so small that it makes the reports questionable, if not thoroughly erroneous.
It's like looking at the moon and determining all moons are like that. Yes, we used to think that when we could only see our moon, but now we've got the technology we look at more moons and find that a lot of what we used to think about moons is wrong.
When looking at humans, we've got every opportunity to look at millions more than we do now.
So why are we looking at a mere handful and saying "they're representative of the 6 billion of us here", and worse still, bringing in policies and laws to restrict those 6 billion based on not even 1% of that population?
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
CD reviews coming!
I've been doing a fair bit of CD reviewing for inthemix lately, so thought I may as well start updating my website with them.
I'll start with some of the newer ones, and hopefully will work backwards and get them all up by June.
If you visit FunkyJ.com and click on Music Reviews you can read all the 2008 reviews.
I'll start with some of the newer ones, and hopefully will work backwards and get them all up by June.
If you visit FunkyJ.com and click on Music Reviews you can read all the 2008 reviews.
Monday, 12 May 2008
First Melbourne gig Thursday 15 May
I've got my first gig as a Melbourne DJ!
I'm part of Beat Off, with 11 other DJs all dropping 15 minute laid back sets of tunes!
It's being held at the Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale St
Other DJs include, BLAXTER, Brain, Dboy, Funky J, Huge, Lephrenic, Myst, RK, SAME'O, Sea, Timmy G and Zero Hour.
It marks the return of Off Beat to a monthly format.
As it's a kind of funky competition , there are rules...
- we must play a 15 minute chill set
- we must include at least one mix, with no maximum
- we bring a team of two or three people for a scavenger hunt
- and we need to invite everybody we know to cheer us all along
DJ times will be drawn from a hat during a glitzy Draw Gala, complete with ring girls!
The flyer is fantastic!
So come for pizza, beer, warm vibes, and the enjoyment as you see how chill music and chaos can so terrifically go together.
I'm part of Beat Off, with 11 other DJs all dropping 15 minute laid back sets of tunes!
It's being held at the Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale St
Other DJs include, BLAXTER, Brain, Dboy, Funky J, Huge, Lephrenic, Myst, RK, SAME'O, Sea, Timmy G and Zero Hour.
It marks the return of Off Beat to a monthly format.
As it's a kind of funky competition , there are rules...
- we must play a 15 minute chill set
- we must include at least one mix, with no maximum
- we bring a team of two or three people for a scavenger hunt
- and we need to invite everybody we know to cheer us all along
DJ times will be drawn from a hat during a glitzy Draw Gala, complete with ring girls!
The flyer is fantastic!
So come for pizza, beer, warm vibes, and the enjoyment as you see how chill music and chaos can so terrifically go together.
Friday, 25 April 2008
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist
I've been going out to see bands and DJs for 20 years now, and, without sounding like a total fuckhead, I like to think I've pretty much heard and seen everything.
I've been to that many shows, seen so many awesome acts, and quite a few awful ones too, but honestly, I'm sick of the same old shit, week in, week out. I really feel old sometimes when I go out, especially in Melbourne because I don't know anybody, so I really am there just for the music.
And I've got to say, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist certainly wasn't what I was expecting, and if I was brutally honest I would have preferred to see brainfreeze, but that was pretty fucking good in my opinion.
I like to see and hear original stuff and that was some of the most entertaining and original music and mixing I've ever seen and heard.
The novelty of the music added to the novelty of mixing on 8 decks with all 45s was really special. I loved that they dropped Space Invaders by Player 1 and the Pacman theme. I loved the old 50s swing and rock and roll. I even loved the song they claimed was the worst song ever recorded. I had a smile on my face the entire time.
Yes, it was incredibly indulgent, but I loved the fact that they are masters of their craft and were willing to share their expansive and extensive collection with us.
I've been to that many shows, seen so many awesome acts, and quite a few awful ones too, but honestly, I'm sick of the same old shit, week in, week out. I really feel old sometimes when I go out, especially in Melbourne because I don't know anybody, so I really am there just for the music.
And I've got to say, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist certainly wasn't what I was expecting, and if I was brutally honest I would have preferred to see brainfreeze, but that was pretty fucking good in my opinion.
I like to see and hear original stuff and that was some of the most entertaining and original music and mixing I've ever seen and heard.
The novelty of the music added to the novelty of mixing on 8 decks with all 45s was really special. I loved that they dropped Space Invaders by Player 1 and the Pacman theme. I loved the old 50s swing and rock and roll. I even loved the song they claimed was the worst song ever recorded. I had a smile on my face the entire time.
Yes, it was incredibly indulgent, but I loved the fact that they are masters of their craft and were willing to share their expansive and extensive collection with us.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Shocked and Ashamed
I normally don't write about personal things on this blog, but this has me so perplexed.
The other night I was really drunk, and someone gave me a shot of Chartreuse and I don't remember much after that, but I since discovered I sent my ex some very troubling sms's. I only vaguely remember sending them, but the content of them has me really ashamed at myself.
I abused her for my insecurities.
The thing is, I don't blame her for anything, and I don't feel that I have many insecurities, and I can't understand why I would send that.
It's certainly very out of character for the way I feel about life right at the moment.
I feel on top of the world. I love Melbourne, I'm making some great friends, I still have great friends back home, my job is wonderful and everyone there is glad I'm on the team and telling me I'm doing a really great job. The project is going fine and I can see multiple paths of direction I want to take my life.
My feelings for her have never been better since we broke up. She's getting engaged to a really cool guy, loving her life in the UK, doing well in her job, and I'm really happy she's happy.
I've never felt better about myself and my life. I've finally taken control of my life and my actions and feel the consequences of those actions are my own.
So why the hell did I abuse her in such a way, and so suddenly out of the blue?
I feel so ashamed. I really can't understand it.
I'm thinking maybe I wrote it as a joke or something, but that still doesn't make sense - how could she know it was a joke? Yes, the message was cut off - like I sent it accidentally, but that still doesn't excuse it.
It was stupid and idiotic, and I am at a loss to explain it.
It was so... schizophrenic of me.
I sent a message apologising, but I don't expect her to forgive me.
On the plus side, it's made me seriously consider giving up drinking for a while.
The other night I was really drunk, and someone gave me a shot of Chartreuse and I don't remember much after that, but I since discovered I sent my ex some very troubling sms's. I only vaguely remember sending them, but the content of them has me really ashamed at myself.
I abused her for my insecurities.
The thing is, I don't blame her for anything, and I don't feel that I have many insecurities, and I can't understand why I would send that.
It's certainly very out of character for the way I feel about life right at the moment.
I feel on top of the world. I love Melbourne, I'm making some great friends, I still have great friends back home, my job is wonderful and everyone there is glad I'm on the team and telling me I'm doing a really great job. The project is going fine and I can see multiple paths of direction I want to take my life.
My feelings for her have never been better since we broke up. She's getting engaged to a really cool guy, loving her life in the UK, doing well in her job, and I'm really happy she's happy.
I've never felt better about myself and my life. I've finally taken control of my life and my actions and feel the consequences of those actions are my own.
So why the hell did I abuse her in such a way, and so suddenly out of the blue?
I feel so ashamed. I really can't understand it.
I'm thinking maybe I wrote it as a joke or something, but that still doesn't make sense - how could she know it was a joke? Yes, the message was cut off - like I sent it accidentally, but that still doesn't excuse it.
It was stupid and idiotic, and I am at a loss to explain it.
It was so... schizophrenic of me.
I sent a message apologising, but I don't expect her to forgive me.
On the plus side, it's made me seriously consider giving up drinking for a while.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Health
Apparently hospitals are "over flowing" with people with preventable disease.
Alcohol, tobacco, drug and obesity cost Australia $56 billion and will cost some millions of lives by 2009.
"Health problems are not just about fixing hospitals, we actually have to fix some of the things that mean people end up in hospital."
"With prevention, clogged Hospitals will be freed up" were some of the quotes from the Health Minister.
RUBBISH!
Who the fuck is this government to tell me how to live?
And what exactly are hospitals for, if not to care for the sick - NO MATTER HOW THEY GOT SICK?
This is simply the Government trying to unload it's burden onto us, the hard working men and women of Australia who deserve a drink, a smoke or a joint.
All they want us to be is happy little worker bees, producing wealth for them and their corporation owning buddies.
"oh, don't be a drain on society, you've got to look after yourself".
Maybe if those pricks worked harder at making this society a better place for us ALL to live, maybe if they instead of opening up markets for banks to rape us, they made banks accountable to communities; instead of pouring billions into shoring up wasteful and unproductive industries like the Motor industry, they concentrated on infrastructure and maintaining control of public assets, we wouldn't feel the need to go home and drink, smoke or get high!
I'm sick of this bullshit nanny state mentality by all governments, left and right wing. I'm sick of these people thinking I need to be controlled, otherwise I'll go off the rails and do something "horrible".
We live in a society that has unprecedented life expectancy. People who are born with disabilities that would have killed them 100 years ago are living to 80 or 90 years old.
Why should it matter if someone wants to drink/smoke/drug themselves to death?
It's just nature's way to even out the population.
No one ever said we should prevent blind children from being able to live their lives the way they want, so why should I be any different because I've chosen to drink?
Alcohol, tobacco, drug and obesity cost Australia $56 billion and will cost some millions of lives by 2009.
"Health problems are not just about fixing hospitals, we actually have to fix some of the things that mean people end up in hospital."
"With prevention, clogged Hospitals will be freed up" were some of the quotes from the Health Minister.
RUBBISH!
Who the fuck is this government to tell me how to live?
And what exactly are hospitals for, if not to care for the sick - NO MATTER HOW THEY GOT SICK?
This is simply the Government trying to unload it's burden onto us, the hard working men and women of Australia who deserve a drink, a smoke or a joint.
All they want us to be is happy little worker bees, producing wealth for them and their corporation owning buddies.
"oh, don't be a drain on society, you've got to look after yourself".
Maybe if those pricks worked harder at making this society a better place for us ALL to live, maybe if they instead of opening up markets for banks to rape us, they made banks accountable to communities; instead of pouring billions into shoring up wasteful and unproductive industries like the Motor industry, they concentrated on infrastructure and maintaining control of public assets, we wouldn't feel the need to go home and drink, smoke or get high!
I'm sick of this bullshit nanny state mentality by all governments, left and right wing. I'm sick of these people thinking I need to be controlled, otherwise I'll go off the rails and do something "horrible".
We live in a society that has unprecedented life expectancy. People who are born with disabilities that would have killed them 100 years ago are living to 80 or 90 years old.
Why should it matter if someone wants to drink/smoke/drug themselves to death?
It's just nature's way to even out the population.
No one ever said we should prevent blind children from being able to live their lives the way they want, so why should I be any different because I've chosen to drink?
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Supanova 08
Well, Supanova hit Melbourne for the first time, and had a pretty interesting time.
I went briefly on Saturday to scope it out and look around, and was appalled to find out autographs from the stars started at $30! Fuck that.
But I did go to the Cosplay, and took a heap of pictures which you can find on facebook.
I went briefly on Saturday to scope it out and look around, and was appalled to find out autographs from the stars started at $30! Fuck that.
But I did go to the Cosplay, and took a heap of pictures which you can find on facebook.
The detail of the costumes and the funny little skits these kids worked on for the costumes was awesome. Some went on for a little too long, and I'm not sure who won, but it's really great to see this kind of thing happening here as it does in the US and Japan.
* * * * *
On Sunday I was a volunteer at the Queensland Games/Krome Studios stall. We demoed Viva Pinata and had Ty The Tasmanian Tiger posters, as well as Ty himself!
Some things I noticed about working this stall:
- We should have had Ty on display as well as Viva Pinata. Ty is a very popular game - I had people asking when the next one was coming out, or if we are making it for PSP / PS3 / Xbox360, constantly.
- Actually, we should have been showing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Whenever the QG video showed the trailer for that, people stopped to watch it. We would have been bigger than the SingStar stall if we had.
- Kids recognise and associate with the Viva Pinata cartoon, whereas older teens and adults know the game, and it really causes confusion. Our game, Viva Pinata Party Animals is based on the cartoon series and aimed at kids, and is not a true sequel to the original Rare game.
- There's some really sad and lonely people out there and games and game characters really touch them (and I'm not just talking about Steve in the Ty suit...)
- There are a lot of yummy mummies at conventions (or maybe I'm just being less picky in my old age)
I also attended the talks by John Rhys Davies and Lou Ferrigno.
Lou's talk was good, although he has trouble hearing and with the accent so had to get someone to repeat every question and the intention of some questions sometimes went awry. It's interesting to hear that he is 57 and still works out, and has trained with Chuck Norris, and how no one hassles him out in bars. He's a sheriff now with the California police, which is sure to freak out some drugged out crim he busts I bet!
John's talk was very moral and philosophical. He began by telling us he's pissed off that the UK government is thinking of denying ancestry rights to Australians. As he said, there's only 20,000 aussies in the last 5 years who've emigrated and not many of them have used Ancestry to stay there. He then went on a big diatribe on how he thinks pornography is wrong, how his generation championed rights but not responsibilities, and how he thinks we abandon children at 16, amongst other things. It was very interesting and although I don't agree with every point he made, it was very enlightening hearing that sort of talk from a celebrity.
I really wanted to stay for Jewel Staite and David Harris's talks, but I was pretty over it by 3... geeks/nerds are nice and all, but they're a little bit full on when in large numbers, even for me and I'm a pretty major nerd.
* * * * *
On Sunday I was a volunteer at the Queensland Games/Krome Studios stall. We demoed Viva Pinata and had Ty The Tasmanian Tiger posters, as well as Ty himself!
Some things I noticed about working this stall:
- We should have had Ty on display as well as Viva Pinata. Ty is a very popular game - I had people asking when the next one was coming out, or if we are making it for PSP / PS3 / Xbox360, constantly.
- Actually, we should have been showing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Whenever the QG video showed the trailer for that, people stopped to watch it. We would have been bigger than the SingStar stall if we had.
- Kids recognise and associate with the Viva Pinata cartoon, whereas older teens and adults know the game, and it really causes confusion. Our game, Viva Pinata Party Animals is based on the cartoon series and aimed at kids, and is not a true sequel to the original Rare game.
- There's some really sad and lonely people out there and games and game characters really touch them (and I'm not just talking about Steve in the Ty suit...)
- There are a lot of yummy mummies at conventions (or maybe I'm just being less picky in my old age)
I also attended the talks by John Rhys Davies and Lou Ferrigno.
Lou's talk was good, although he has trouble hearing and with the accent so had to get someone to repeat every question and the intention of some questions sometimes went awry. It's interesting to hear that he is 57 and still works out, and has trained with Chuck Norris, and how no one hassles him out in bars. He's a sheriff now with the California police, which is sure to freak out some drugged out crim he busts I bet!
John's talk was very moral and philosophical. He began by telling us he's pissed off that the UK government is thinking of denying ancestry rights to Australians. As he said, there's only 20,000 aussies in the last 5 years who've emigrated and not many of them have used Ancestry to stay there. He then went on a big diatribe on how he thinks pornography is wrong, how his generation championed rights but not responsibilities, and how he thinks we abandon children at 16, amongst other things. It was very interesting and although I don't agree with every point he made, it was very enlightening hearing that sort of talk from a celebrity.
I really wanted to stay for Jewel Staite and David Harris's talks, but I was pretty over it by 3... geeks/nerds are nice and all, but they're a little bit full on when in large numbers, even for me and I'm a pretty major nerd.
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Why? Why!? WHY!?!?!
Apple and Microsoft spent millions of dollars on developing FREE video editing software and it's pretty simple to use, so why is it that NOBODY edits videos on youtube?
Everybody just sits there and talks into a camera, "Big Brother" style. Is the world really full of so many morons?
Staring into a camera and talking for 5 minutes is NOT INTERESTING, no matter HOW WITTY YOU THINK YOU ARE.
I was browsing a few things, and being an atheist myself I saw one titled "the Amazing Atheist", and decided to watch.
After a minute or so of him yabbering on and procrastinating, I shut it off. If he's amazing, then I'm afraid us atheists are in a lot of trouble because he was pretty uninspiring.
Check this guy out here... And compare it to a preacher such as Tye Tribbett
Yeah, sure, Tribett is full of shit, but if I was some impressionable young kid looking for meaning in the world, I'd know who I'd prefer to listen to...
Everybody just sits there and talks into a camera, "Big Brother" style. Is the world really full of so many morons?
Staring into a camera and talking for 5 minutes is NOT INTERESTING, no matter HOW WITTY YOU THINK YOU ARE.
I was browsing a few things, and being an atheist myself I saw one titled "the Amazing Atheist", and decided to watch.
After a minute or so of him yabbering on and procrastinating, I shut it off. If he's amazing, then I'm afraid us atheists are in a lot of trouble because he was pretty uninspiring.
Check this guy out here... And compare it to a preacher such as Tye Tribbett
Yeah, sure, Tribett is full of shit, but if I was some impressionable young kid looking for meaning in the world, I'd know who I'd prefer to listen to...
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
A week in Adelaide
I just spent 10 days in Adelaide.
Every single day was over 38 degrees... and I didn't get burnt once! YAY!
I went over for Womad, which was very hot, very dusty, but a lot of fun. Highlights included Mojo Web, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Billy Cobham, John Buttler Trio, Soul Jazz Sound System and Nickodemus.
I caught up with most of the people I wanted to catch up with, and spent most of the time either watching TV and drinking, or at the beach and drinking, or in the park and drinking.
There's no pictures because I forgot to take my bloody camera :(
Every single day was over 38 degrees... and I didn't get burnt once! YAY!
I went over for Womad, which was very hot, very dusty, but a lot of fun. Highlights included Mojo Web, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Billy Cobham, John Buttler Trio, Soul Jazz Sound System and Nickodemus.
I caught up with most of the people I wanted to catch up with, and spent most of the time either watching TV and drinking, or at the beach and drinking, or in the park and drinking.
There's no pictures because I forgot to take my bloody camera :(
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
RIP Gary Gygax
RIP Mr Gygax.
Without you I wouldn't have made the friends I have made or be the person I am today.
And I'd probably be worse at math too!
Gary Gygax - creator of Dungeons & Dragons dies
The rattling of dice across tabletops around the word falls silent today with the news that co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and TSR, Gary Gygax, has passed away at the age of 69. The news came via the forums of Troll Lord Games, who publish Gygax's Lejendary Adventures and Castles & Crusades sourcebooks, delivered via his son Ernie Gygax. He died in his home, having been in failing health for some time, suffering several strokes and a near heart-attack. Gygax was an inspiration to the gaming industry, with his work directly or indirectly influencing entire genres - role-playing games and MMORPGs specifically. Gary Gygax may have passed on, but the legacy he leaves to gaming will live on forever. Rest in peace, Dungeon Master.
(from Kotaku)
Without you I wouldn't have made the friends I have made or be the person I am today.
And I'd probably be worse at math too!
Gary Gygax - creator of Dungeons & Dragons dies
The rattling of dice across tabletops around the word falls silent today with the news that co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and TSR, Gary Gygax, has passed away at the age of 69. The news came via the forums of Troll Lord Games, who publish Gygax's Lejendary Adventures and Castles & Crusades sourcebooks, delivered via his son Ernie Gygax. He died in his home, having been in failing health for some time, suffering several strokes and a near heart-attack. Gygax was an inspiration to the gaming industry, with his work directly or indirectly influencing entire genres - role-playing games and MMORPGs specifically. Gary Gygax may have passed on, but the legacy he leaves to gaming will live on forever. Rest in peace, Dungeon Master.
(from Kotaku)
Monday, 3 March 2008
Back online!
Thanks to hostonce's terrible customer service, my domain expired.
I was notified on Friday last week, and cut off on Saturday. I sent 2 emails and posted 3 help desk questions and got a response on Tuesday.
That's not good enough.
And now because I wanted my site and email back on ASAP I'm locked into another 6 months with them...
At least everything is functioning now.
I was notified on Friday last week, and cut off on Saturday. I sent 2 emails and posted 3 help desk questions and got a response on Tuesday.
That's not good enough.
And now because I wanted my site and email back on ASAP I'm locked into another 6 months with them...
At least everything is functioning now.
Monday, 28 January 2008
Melbourne Big Day Out 08
This was the second Big Day Out I've attended in Melbourne; the first was back in 2001.
This time it was a Flemmington Racecourse, and I must admit I prefer the old Showgrounds (and moreover, Adelaide Showgrounds) because there's hardly any shade and no where nice to sit. The stages are miles apart, and you have to walk pretty far between them.
There were a few things different - they had a single entry to the 'D' - basically the area right at the front of the stage, and prevented people entering when it was full. This meant I didn't get anywhere close to the stage at any time. They had drink tickets, but this time they sold them in lots of 10 for $30, and drinks were 1 ticket for water, 2 for beer, and 3 for spirits, which works out really well when you think about it.
But I had a really fun time.
Got there for Muph & Plutonic and they were heaps good... ;)
Midnight Jugernauts were meh, and didn't excite me in the slightest, so I wandered around and heard a local Melbourne group called Mammal, who weren't too bad.
Dizzee Rascal got me bouncing, and performed lots of stuff from English & Mathematics. He closed with Stand Up Tall, which I love.
Hilltop hoods started with a couple of covers - "Just To Get By" and "It's All Good", then dropped into their usual set. They had a singer and the string quartet with them as well, but I was a bit disappointed they didn't do any of the songs they wrote about Adelaide - "City of Light", for example.
Grinspoon annoyed me because they didn't even say hello to the audience - not that I heard anyway, so I grabbed a beer and did a wander. Managed to catch a little of Billy Bragg and I'm such a little commie that I was singing along to it, knowing all the words.
After him I popped over to the Lillypad and caught some of Dexter's Gorilla Step, which is a lot of fun. Dexter DJs whilst drummers drum on logs, and dancers dance around like gorillas, but in hiphop / break dance battle style. It's really cool.
Tom Morello is a funny guy. His banter between songs really humanised him. He did an acoustic cover of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", changing the lyrics to be all about the evil that is George Bush. He then said "Not bad for a guy who's been digitised for Guitar Hero III" and proceeded to tell the crowd how crap he is at the game. He was quite folky, and I'm sure it would have put a lot of typical rage fans off, but I liked it. At the end he told everyone to go download his album, saying "we sold so many of that Rage Against the Machine record that it doesn't matter".
However, most of the day I felt like something was missing, and it wasn't until UNKLE Live came on that I realised what it was - straight up rock! Most of the acts I had seen were hiphop or folk, and when UNKLE came on and proceeded to rock I was really surprised and really happy. They reminded me a lot of Depeche Mode actually, and the lighting in the boiler room was top shit!
Krafty Kuts and Dynamite MC played after, and I gotta hand it to Krafty, he certainly knows how to rock the festival crowd. I wasn't really feeling it though, so wandered to the bar and chatted to some randoms (Melbourne is so friendly and so full of freaks it's awesome!) and then caught 5 minutes of Pegz, who was rocking his home crowd well.
I made my way over to the blue stage in preparation for RATM, so caught most of Bjork. I really enjoyed her set, although lots of people around me whinged like little bitches about her playing right before Rage. The video showed her horn section jumping around, and the freaky instruments she uses. One was this large round touchscreen that you put cups on, and the different cups have different sounds, and the closer they are the different frequencies they make. Really interesting and I want one! (I've since found out it is a ReacTable)
Then Rage Against The Machine came on, and if I was lamenting the lack of rock, they fixed it for me. Playing all their hits, they simply smashed it. Although I got to take issue with one thing - Zac had a rant about the system, as he is want to do. It's all well and good to rant about "the system" comrade, but "the system" is the thing that's got you in front of 50,000 people singing and earning millions instead of doing an honest day's work... But it's only a minor gripe and I love the commie bastards.
Things got a little out of control in the crowd too - there were people up on the roof of the bar tent, people on the scaffolding, people in trees, and security and cops couldn't do much, although I saw one security dude just laying into one of the crashers. Not good.
But all in all it was a pretty good Big Day Out, although I think I might head to Adelaide next year, for the simple fact that there are nice places to sit and see the action, unlike at Flemmington, because my legs and feet are fucking killing me right now!
This time it was a Flemmington Racecourse, and I must admit I prefer the old Showgrounds (and moreover, Adelaide Showgrounds) because there's hardly any shade and no where nice to sit. The stages are miles apart, and you have to walk pretty far between them.
There were a few things different - they had a single entry to the 'D' - basically the area right at the front of the stage, and prevented people entering when it was full. This meant I didn't get anywhere close to the stage at any time. They had drink tickets, but this time they sold them in lots of 10 for $30, and drinks were 1 ticket for water, 2 for beer, and 3 for spirits, which works out really well when you think about it.
But I had a really fun time.
Got there for Muph & Plutonic and they were heaps good... ;)
Midnight Jugernauts were meh, and didn't excite me in the slightest, so I wandered around and heard a local Melbourne group called Mammal, who weren't too bad.
Dizzee Rascal got me bouncing, and performed lots of stuff from English & Mathematics. He closed with Stand Up Tall, which I love.
Hilltop hoods started with a couple of covers - "Just To Get By" and "It's All Good", then dropped into their usual set. They had a singer and the string quartet with them as well, but I was a bit disappointed they didn't do any of the songs they wrote about Adelaide - "City of Light", for example.
Grinspoon annoyed me because they didn't even say hello to the audience - not that I heard anyway, so I grabbed a beer and did a wander. Managed to catch a little of Billy Bragg and I'm such a little commie that I was singing along to it, knowing all the words.
After him I popped over to the Lillypad and caught some of Dexter's Gorilla Step, which is a lot of fun. Dexter DJs whilst drummers drum on logs, and dancers dance around like gorillas, but in hiphop / break dance battle style. It's really cool.
Tom Morello is a funny guy. His banter between songs really humanised him. He did an acoustic cover of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", changing the lyrics to be all about the evil that is George Bush. He then said "Not bad for a guy who's been digitised for Guitar Hero III" and proceeded to tell the crowd how crap he is at the game. He was quite folky, and I'm sure it would have put a lot of typical rage fans off, but I liked it. At the end he told everyone to go download his album, saying "we sold so many of that Rage Against the Machine record that it doesn't matter".
However, most of the day I felt like something was missing, and it wasn't until UNKLE Live came on that I realised what it was - straight up rock! Most of the acts I had seen were hiphop or folk, and when UNKLE came on and proceeded to rock I was really surprised and really happy. They reminded me a lot of Depeche Mode actually, and the lighting in the boiler room was top shit!
Krafty Kuts and Dynamite MC played after, and I gotta hand it to Krafty, he certainly knows how to rock the festival crowd. I wasn't really feeling it though, so wandered to the bar and chatted to some randoms (Melbourne is so friendly and so full of freaks it's awesome!) and then caught 5 minutes of Pegz, who was rocking his home crowd well.
I made my way over to the blue stage in preparation for RATM, so caught most of Bjork. I really enjoyed her set, although lots of people around me whinged like little bitches about her playing right before Rage. The video showed her horn section jumping around, and the freaky instruments she uses. One was this large round touchscreen that you put cups on, and the different cups have different sounds, and the closer they are the different frequencies they make. Really interesting and I want one! (I've since found out it is a ReacTable)
Then Rage Against The Machine came on, and if I was lamenting the lack of rock, they fixed it for me. Playing all their hits, they simply smashed it. Although I got to take issue with one thing - Zac had a rant about the system, as he is want to do. It's all well and good to rant about "the system" comrade, but "the system" is the thing that's got you in front of 50,000 people singing and earning millions instead of doing an honest day's work... But it's only a minor gripe and I love the commie bastards.
Things got a little out of control in the crowd too - there were people up on the roof of the bar tent, people on the scaffolding, people in trees, and security and cops couldn't do much, although I saw one security dude just laying into one of the crashers. Not good.
But all in all it was a pretty good Big Day Out, although I think I might head to Adelaide next year, for the simple fact that there are nice places to sit and see the action, unlike at Flemmington, because my legs and feet are fucking killing me right now!
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
I spent the evening sitting with Betty and Sezzy and Skreetch and Kilz on the Yarra watching the fireworks. It was cool, but they had a total ban on alcohol so being sober at midnight was a little odd.
New Years Day we went to Hot BBQ and it was pretty good. Saw a tiny bit of Q-Bert, the Stanton Warriors (who were rather poor), Gotye who was good, and De La Soul who were awesome.
I also went to see Blackalicious and People Under the Stairs last Thurs and Deekline & Wizard last Fri, both which were excellent nights! And tomorrow I'm off to see the Plump DJs, who I missed at the Hot BBQ.
It's good being back at work too - straight into a new project so goodbye Star Wars: The Force Unleashed PSP! It's going to turn out ok, but the PSP is such a shitty platform for gaming - it's heavy and uncomfortable after an hour, so holding it for 4-5 hours a day is just horrid.
Being in Melbourne just feels like one big holiday. I really wish I had done this earlier in my life, but then again I didn't have a job I enjoyed this much when I was younger, so I might have hated on everything (even more ;) and become emo or something...
I spent the evening sitting with Betty and Sezzy and Skreetch and Kilz on the Yarra watching the fireworks. It was cool, but they had a total ban on alcohol so being sober at midnight was a little odd.
New Years Day we went to Hot BBQ and it was pretty good. Saw a tiny bit of Q-Bert, the Stanton Warriors (who were rather poor), Gotye who was good, and De La Soul who were awesome.
I also went to see Blackalicious and People Under the Stairs last Thurs and Deekline & Wizard last Fri, both which were excellent nights! And tomorrow I'm off to see the Plump DJs, who I missed at the Hot BBQ.
It's good being back at work too - straight into a new project so goodbye Star Wars: The Force Unleashed PSP! It's going to turn out ok, but the PSP is such a shitty platform for gaming - it's heavy and uncomfortable after an hour, so holding it for 4-5 hours a day is just horrid.
Being in Melbourne just feels like one big holiday. I really wish I had done this earlier in my life, but then again I didn't have a job I enjoyed this much when I was younger, so I might have hated on everything (even more ;) and become emo or something...
Monday, 31 December 2007
Who Do You Think You Are?
I've been watching SBS's Who Do You Think You Are?
It's a show that traces one UK celebrity's family history per episode.
It's so amazing what some of these people - nearly all of whom are as British as beans on toast - Bill Oddy, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Clarkson - have in their family history.
Stephen Fry had one side of his family wiped out by the Germans.
Last night they had Gurinder Chadha, the woman who directed "Bend It Like Beckham" and she's Indian, but from Kenya. Although wealthy, her family were in refugee camps after the separation of Pakistan from India. Her brother's sister died fleeing Pakistan.
These things were happening only 50 - 60 years ago.
Over a million people were dispossessed when India and Pakistan split. A Million people who had family, friends, history, land and homes told to piss off somewhere else. And I don't need to mention the Holocaust. Even if it's exaggerated the amounts of people killed, it's still a terrible waste.
And it happens over and over and over again all over the world.
This is why I get so upset with people who are racist and blame immigrants for everything and anything - I've got a sense of home, a sense of history. Sure, my knowledge of it only goes back 3 generations, but that's 3 generations of people who've lived in the one place not having to deal with being told we had to move or be killed because we prayed to the wrong god, or had the wrong coloured skin.
It's a show that traces one UK celebrity's family history per episode.
It's so amazing what some of these people - nearly all of whom are as British as beans on toast - Bill Oddy, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Clarkson - have in their family history.
Stephen Fry had one side of his family wiped out by the Germans.
Last night they had Gurinder Chadha, the woman who directed "Bend It Like Beckham" and she's Indian, but from Kenya. Although wealthy, her family were in refugee camps after the separation of Pakistan from India. Her brother's sister died fleeing Pakistan.
These things were happening only 50 - 60 years ago.
Over a million people were dispossessed when India and Pakistan split. A Million people who had family, friends, history, land and homes told to piss off somewhere else. And I don't need to mention the Holocaust. Even if it's exaggerated the amounts of people killed, it's still a terrible waste.
And it happens over and over and over again all over the world.
This is why I get so upset with people who are racist and blame immigrants for everything and anything - I've got a sense of home, a sense of history. Sure, my knowledge of it only goes back 3 generations, but that's 3 generations of people who've lived in the one place not having to deal with being told we had to move or be killed because we prayed to the wrong god, or had the wrong coloured skin.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Merry Christmas!
My first Christmas in Melbourne was really nice.
Spent it with my house mate and his family, all of whom are really nice people. His mum gave me a George Foreman grill, and his sister and I bonded over our love of archeology and Time Team.
His other sister has two twin boys aged 9, and they refer to themselves as the "terrible twins" which I thought was pretty funny. They loved playing the Xbox, although they weren't any good at Guitar Hero, and after lunch I went back to their house to play PS2.
One really touching moment was when one of the twins was asking Bill, a 90 year old bloke and friend of Michael's Mum, all these questions about his life growing up.
I was scared of all the old people when I was young; Mum worked in a nursing home and they all smelt funny and were a bit crazy, so I was never curious about their lives at that age. But Bill was sharp as a tack and seemed to enjoy the questioning, and I enjoyed listening to the pair talk.
I miss my friends in Adelaide terribly though, and am really looking forward to getting back there in February and March.
Spent it with my house mate and his family, all of whom are really nice people. His mum gave me a George Foreman grill, and his sister and I bonded over our love of archeology and Time Team.
His other sister has two twin boys aged 9, and they refer to themselves as the "terrible twins" which I thought was pretty funny. They loved playing the Xbox, although they weren't any good at Guitar Hero, and after lunch I went back to their house to play PS2.
One really touching moment was when one of the twins was asking Bill, a 90 year old bloke and friend of Michael's Mum, all these questions about his life growing up.
I was scared of all the old people when I was young; Mum worked in a nursing home and they all smelt funny and were a bit crazy, so I was never curious about their lives at that age. But Bill was sharp as a tack and seemed to enjoy the questioning, and I enjoyed listening to the pair talk.
I miss my friends in Adelaide terribly though, and am really looking forward to getting back there in February and March.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Raining Much
This is my first ever YouTube video.
It's the view outside my window during a torrential downpour.
It was so loud I couldn't hear the TV.
Yesterday this amount of rain caused my flat to flood.
Luckily today, because the rain was falling straight down and not at an angle so it could seep in underneath the weather board, the place didn't flood.
It's the view outside my window during a torrential downpour.
It was so loud I couldn't hear the TV.
Yesterday this amount of rain caused my flat to flood.
Luckily today, because the rain was falling straight down and not at an angle so it could seep in underneath the weather board, the place didn't flood.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
Spoilt little rich girl
Oh, poor Hilary Martin.
Went to Brisbane Girls Grammar School and leaves school and through mummy and daddy slipping a couple of bucks the editors way gets published in the Australian.
She sounds like a spoilt little brat to me.
I went to quite possibly the worse public school in South Australia in the late 80s / early 90s... And I wouldn't give up what I was taught there for all the world.
In my year 12, we had an English Teacher who was just stuffing around for the year, so at the halfway mark, when we still hadn't read any books, we took action.
We went to the head of English, and the head of the school, and got a new teacher.
But do you know WHY we felt we could take action?
Because, unlike miss silver spooner here, we were taught independent thought! We were underprivileged and were taught by the good teachers, the ones you would probably dismiss as "stupid lefties", to fight for what we believed in!
We were taught not to sit back and take crap. And we didn't.
I was told I would amount to nothing, and treated as such, just because of where I came from.
Yet I got through school with excellent results, got a degree and post grad diploma, I'm now doing something I absolutely love and am the envy of most of my peers.
If she didn't like her schooling she should have done something about it a long time ago.
Why is she whinging about her schooling now? Why criticise and moan like a little girl after the fact?
It can't help her now.
If she acted at the time, she might have helped not only herself, but all the other people in her school, like we did.
God, I hate people like this.
Went to Brisbane Girls Grammar School and leaves school and through mummy and daddy slipping a couple of bucks the editors way gets published in the Australian.
She sounds like a spoilt little brat to me.
I went to quite possibly the worse public school in South Australia in the late 80s / early 90s... And I wouldn't give up what I was taught there for all the world.
In my year 12, we had an English Teacher who was just stuffing around for the year, so at the halfway mark, when we still hadn't read any books, we took action.
We went to the head of English, and the head of the school, and got a new teacher.
But do you know WHY we felt we could take action?
Because, unlike miss silver spooner here, we were taught independent thought! We were underprivileged and were taught by the good teachers, the ones you would probably dismiss as "stupid lefties", to fight for what we believed in!
We were taught not to sit back and take crap. And we didn't.
I was told I would amount to nothing, and treated as such, just because of where I came from.
Yet I got through school with excellent results, got a degree and post grad diploma, I'm now doing something I absolutely love and am the envy of most of my peers.
If she didn't like her schooling she should have done something about it a long time ago.
Why is she whinging about her schooling now? Why criticise and moan like a little girl after the fact?
It can't help her now.
If she acted at the time, she might have helped not only herself, but all the other people in her school, like we did.
God, I hate people like this.
Monday, 17 December 2007
When did "Average" become "Bad"?
I went and saw Daft Punk the other night, and said online that it was pretty average.
I enjoyed their music, but thought the rest of the night was pretty average. There was a lot more they could have done with the set up to make it really outstanding, like having screens to show the Daft Punk guys pushing the buttons in the pyramid.
Now I've been flamed for saying this, and people have assumed I hated it.
I didn't hate it. I never said I hated it - in fact I'm glad I went... however, because I called it average there's all this hate being directed to me.
Its the same when I review computer games.
If I say a game is average, and give it a score of 6 or 7, people assume that means I am saying the game is bad.
It's not bad, it's just not great. In other words - Average.
So, when did "average" come to mean "bad" in most peoples mind?
I enjoyed their music, but thought the rest of the night was pretty average. There was a lot more they could have done with the set up to make it really outstanding, like having screens to show the Daft Punk guys pushing the buttons in the pyramid.
Now I've been flamed for saying this, and people have assumed I hated it.
I didn't hate it. I never said I hated it - in fact I'm glad I went... however, because I called it average there's all this hate being directed to me.
Its the same when I review computer games.
If I say a game is average, and give it a score of 6 or 7, people assume that means I am saying the game is bad.
It's not bad, it's just not great. In other words - Average.
So, when did "average" come to mean "bad" in most peoples mind?
Sunday, 16 December 2007
Monday, 3 December 2007
RIP James M
A friend of mine passed away in Adelaide this weekend.
"James M" as he was very affectionately known, was a funny bastard, very entertaining and always up for some fun.
He was a risk taker and it sadly caught up with him.
Really sucks being away from everyone back in Adelaide right now.
I'm hoping to get back for the funeral, even if it's just for the day.
Monday, 26 November 2007
Thoughts on the Election
I wouldn't have voted this election if I didn't have to.
Really don't see that much of a difference between the two parties, and Rudd won't undo too much and won't go far enough to put Australia on a decent path again.
Oh sure, he'll sign Kyoto, give us broadband, make tampons GST free, but I'm talking about the "little" things Howard did that Rudd won't undo.
The spending on Government Advertising should be capped - but Rudd will spend more than Howard.
Certain privacy laws were brought in by Howard - laws which effectively silence the press and prevent whistleblowing. These won't be undone by Rudd.
Certain media laws which allow cross media ownership won't be undone by Rudd, meaning we're stuck with a media duopoly.
Certain "anti-terrorism" laws which the Liberal government has shown are totally worthless anyway, won't be undone.
And not to mention the total lack of accountability by government ministers to their constituents... pioneered by the Liberals, but no doubt furthered by Labor.
These things are (apparently) fundamental to a proper working democratic society and have been taken away under a Liberal government, but because they work so well for a government in terms of keeping the government running unabetted by 'people power', none of this will be undone by Labor.
Really don't see that much of a difference between the two parties, and Rudd won't undo too much and won't go far enough to put Australia on a decent path again.
Oh sure, he'll sign Kyoto, give us broadband, make tampons GST free, but I'm talking about the "little" things Howard did that Rudd won't undo.
The spending on Government Advertising should be capped - but Rudd will spend more than Howard.
Certain privacy laws were brought in by Howard - laws which effectively silence the press and prevent whistleblowing. These won't be undone by Rudd.
Certain media laws which allow cross media ownership won't be undone by Rudd, meaning we're stuck with a media duopoly.
Certain "anti-terrorism" laws which the Liberal government has shown are totally worthless anyway, won't be undone.
And not to mention the total lack of accountability by government ministers to their constituents... pioneered by the Liberals, but no doubt furthered by Labor.
These things are (apparently) fundamental to a proper working democratic society and have been taken away under a Liberal government, but because they work so well for a government in terms of keeping the government running unabetted by 'people power', none of this will be undone by Labor.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Thoughts on "Up & Out"
Last night I went to see "Up & Out" by Christian Marclay at ACMI after winning free tickets from PBS.fm
Christian Marclay interests me because he's a turntablist in the artistic sense - using records and the experience of listening to and playing with vinyl to recontextualise sound, beyond what a normal DJ - even DJs like DJ Kentaro.
He also plays around with sound and vision in mashup style.
His film "Up & Out" is a mashup of the vision from Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni and the sound from Blow Out by Brian de Palma.
It was interesting, but I thought it could be done better... it was simply the sound of "Up" over the vision of "Out" and whilst there was some good congruency at times, it got old pretty quickly.
The start was the best, with the score of "Out" creating a sense of apprehension with the tape loop clicking over the strings of the opening track, whilst the vision shows a bunch of face painted freaks cavort over the screen. Gives the already odd on screen action a really spooky, malevolent edge.
I only watched it for about half and hour though - the film nerd in me enjoyed it, but the rest of me thought two things - a) I could do this and b) I could be doing something better.
I understand the thought behind it, especially as both films deal with voyeurism and things not being as they seem and politicising technology, but personally thought it was a bit weak.
I would have liked to see a little more thought put into it - splicing the sound of one into the other at opportune times, a proper mashup with a bit more thought to it.
The best mashups, musically at any rate, are the ones that not only mash incongruent pieces of music but make them enjoyable as stand alone pieces. The Grey Album works because not only is it mashing two incongruent artists like the Beatles with Jay-Z, but each individual song can be played and enjoyed on it's own. You don't need to know anything about Jay-Z's '99 Problems' or the Beatles 'Helter Skelter' to enjoy 99 Problems on the Grey Album.
"Up & Out" needs knowledge of both original films, and maybe even knowledge of both Antonioni and de Palma, to work. In this sense I feel it suffers. To make it work as a film it needed dialog from Blow Up to come in at opportune times.
Christian Marclay interests me because he's a turntablist in the artistic sense - using records and the experience of listening to and playing with vinyl to recontextualise sound, beyond what a normal DJ - even DJs like DJ Kentaro.
He also plays around with sound and vision in mashup style.
His film "Up & Out" is a mashup of the vision from Blow Up by Michelangelo Antonioni and the sound from Blow Out by Brian de Palma.
It was interesting, but I thought it could be done better... it was simply the sound of "Up" over the vision of "Out" and whilst there was some good congruency at times, it got old pretty quickly.
The start was the best, with the score of "Out" creating a sense of apprehension with the tape loop clicking over the strings of the opening track, whilst the vision shows a bunch of face painted freaks cavort over the screen. Gives the already odd on screen action a really spooky, malevolent edge.
I only watched it for about half and hour though - the film nerd in me enjoyed it, but the rest of me thought two things - a) I could do this and b) I could be doing something better.
I understand the thought behind it, especially as both films deal with voyeurism and things not being as they seem and politicising technology, but personally thought it was a bit weak.
I would have liked to see a little more thought put into it - splicing the sound of one into the other at opportune times, a proper mashup with a bit more thought to it.
The best mashups, musically at any rate, are the ones that not only mash incongruent pieces of music but make them enjoyable as stand alone pieces. The Grey Album works because not only is it mashing two incongruent artists like the Beatles with Jay-Z, but each individual song can be played and enjoyed on it's own. You don't need to know anything about Jay-Z's '99 Problems' or the Beatles 'Helter Skelter' to enjoy 99 Problems on the Grey Album.
"Up & Out" needs knowledge of both original films, and maybe even knowledge of both Antonioni and de Palma, to work. In this sense I feel it suffers. To make it work as a film it needed dialog from Blow Up to come in at opportune times.
Monday, 19 November 2007
Change For Change's Sake
"Change for change’s sake is not a good enough reason"
Why am I not surprised this opinion is held by the editors of the Adelaide Advertiser?
It's exactly this kind of attitude that drives so many people out of the State, and will help keep Adelaide the backwater it is.
It's just so conservative. In everything.
I was chatting to Cut Le Roc on Saturday night and he said he was there the night before and it was "disturbingly quiet in Adelaide". And he's right.
Adelaide is quiet. There's never any people about. In Melbourne and Sydney and even Brisbane there's always people about. There's a vitality that's felt in the city.
Adelaide only experiences this occasionally, at times of the Festival/Fringe and Womad. Not even on New Years Eve is that sense of excitement present anymore.
And it's more than merely a "lack of population" thing.
The future is so exciting and opportunities abound, but when you're living in Adelaide it's like there's a fog and you can't see anything.
When Ratbag closed down I was at loss as what to do. Totally and utterly. I was rejected from both Team Bondi and Pandemic, and if Krome hadn't started I would still probably be on the dole.
I've been in Melbourne two weeks and have seen opportunities in case this job somehow goes sour - opportunities that would work for me in Adelaide but stuff I just didn't see or consider because of Adelaide is so conservative that it suppresses that kind of thinking.
I admit it was also me and my thinking that held me back, but it's more than just that... I've only been living out of the state two weeks, and even though I love the people back there, I honestly can't see myself returning for a while...
Why am I not surprised this opinion is held by the editors of the Adelaide Advertiser?
It's exactly this kind of attitude that drives so many people out of the State, and will help keep Adelaide the backwater it is.
It's just so conservative. In everything.
I was chatting to Cut Le Roc on Saturday night and he said he was there the night before and it was "disturbingly quiet in Adelaide". And he's right.
Adelaide is quiet. There's never any people about. In Melbourne and Sydney and even Brisbane there's always people about. There's a vitality that's felt in the city.
Adelaide only experiences this occasionally, at times of the Festival/Fringe and Womad. Not even on New Years Eve is that sense of excitement present anymore.
And it's more than merely a "lack of population" thing.
The future is so exciting and opportunities abound, but when you're living in Adelaide it's like there's a fog and you can't see anything.
When Ratbag closed down I was at loss as what to do. Totally and utterly. I was rejected from both Team Bondi and Pandemic, and if Krome hadn't started I would still probably be on the dole.
I've been in Melbourne two weeks and have seen opportunities in case this job somehow goes sour - opportunities that would work for me in Adelaide but stuff I just didn't see or consider because of Adelaide is so conservative that it suppresses that kind of thinking.
I admit it was also me and my thinking that held me back, but it's more than just that... I've only been living out of the state two weeks, and even though I love the people back there, I honestly can't see myself returning for a while...
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Differences in Opinion
Andrew Bolt has done it again.
On the one hand he claims that the bombing of Hiroshima was necessary to save further bloodshed, but then he condemns Penti Linkola a Finnish green thinker for believing the world needs less people in order to save the planet.
I'm really confused by this, because I see these as the exact same kind of thinking.
I'm not sure if my comment is too long, but Bolt has said he's writing a larger article tomorrow, so I might re-post it in those comments. I really hope I get a response, because I'm legitimately worried that I'm the stupid one for not seeing a difference, and hoping he can clear it up for me...
Here's what I wrote:
On the one hand he claims that the bombing of Hiroshima was necessary to save further bloodshed, but then he condemns Penti Linkola a Finnish green thinker for believing the world needs less people in order to save the planet.
I'm really confused by this, because I see these as the exact same kind of thinking.
I'm not sure if my comment is too long, but Bolt has said he's writing a larger article tomorrow, so I might re-post it in those comments. I really hope I get a response, because I'm legitimately worried that I'm the stupid one for not seeing a difference, and hoping he can clear it up for me...
Here's what I wrote:
Andrew, didn't you just today say that the bombing of Hiroshima was required to stop a greater catastrophe?
I'm pretty sure you did:
"In making such judgements, the utilitarian is driven above all by the moral imperative to preserve as many people as possible from harm. Given that, the utilitarian would also seek in war to avoid any needless deaths, especially of civilians."
Unlike many of your blog posts, these are completely your own words. [LINK]
So you agree that those Japanese killed in the dropping of the bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima needed to be sacrificed to save the planet from the greater threat of Nazi and Japanese Imperialism.
Is that correct?
So how can you condemn these people - you were saying the EXACT SAME THING in that people need to be sacrificed for the greater good??
I really can't see what the difference is here.
One the one hand you had the annihilation of everything we hold dear by the Nazis and Japanese, and on the other hand we have the annihilation of everything we hold dear by environmental breakdown.
Either way it's still total Annihilation.
BUT WAIT - I know what you're going to say "Environmental Annihilation isn't certain."
Well mate, neither was cultural annihilation by the Nazis.
If you look at history, you'll see that the Romans tried to do the exact same thing as the Nazis, and they succeeded, and then the Saxons, and then the Christians, and so on and so on, but traditions thousands of years old that we hold dear still exist.
The world took a different course, but many traditions people held dear and fought for were preserved despite them losing to another culture.
So, can you please explain what the difference between Linkola's position and your position is, because I can't see one.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Tennents of FunkyJism Part 1
For a long time I've wanted to get some of my political views out. For a long time the way we frame political discussion has simply not looked right to me, and the political process has become corrupted.
I think we need to move away from traditional notions and adopt new ones so we can move on and more importantly, move better.
These notions are not always fully formulated and often not fully thought through. They are unreferenced and unresearched.
Here is my first post on this:
Personally I think the whole left/right political scale is a load of bullshit and people who use it are just too thick to understand the real workings of modern capitalist society.
If you look at all modern democracies you will see the same thing - even in places 'the left' hold up as leftist paradises like Sweden. The policies are centralist. And you want to know why?
Capitalism, as a system, needed to conquer the conflict between rich and poor or risk falling in on itself and it did by making the middle classes. It needed a group that was easy to keep happy, and we're pretty fucking happy with our lot, all over the fucking world.
And by happy, I mean are you prepared to risk your life or the life of your family to fight against what you think are the injustices of the Political Party you aren't going to vote for if they get into power?
Of course not! If they get in you'll just whinge for another 4 years. Same with me, same with every single person you know. Because either way, you'll be pretty happy with your lot in life.
Sure, it could be better, it can always be better, but it can also be a lot worse. And as long as it doesn't get too much better or too much worse, you'll remain happy.
And by worse I don't mean having to pay 25% extra on your mortgage, I mean forced into slave camps because your hair kind of worse.
Because unless you're prepared to die for your convictions, which for centuries working class and upper class people were prepared to do, nothing will change.
Change can only come from violent revolution, and violent revolution will never happen on the scale it needs to happen because not only is the logistical possibilities of that occurring again so small because of the huge population, we've been fooled into thinking violence is a bad thing.
Violence isn't bad, it's natural. When the Earth changes it's violent - earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves. When an ecosystem changes it's always violent - fire, flood, famine.
I think we need to move away from traditional notions and adopt new ones so we can move on and more importantly, move better.
These notions are not always fully formulated and often not fully thought through. They are unreferenced and unresearched.
Here is my first post on this:
Personally I think the whole left/right political scale is a load of bullshit and people who use it are just too thick to understand the real workings of modern capitalist society.
If you look at all modern democracies you will see the same thing - even in places 'the left' hold up as leftist paradises like Sweden. The policies are centralist. And you want to know why?
Capitalism, as a system, needed to conquer the conflict between rich and poor or risk falling in on itself and it did by making the middle classes. It needed a group that was easy to keep happy, and we're pretty fucking happy with our lot, all over the fucking world.
And by happy, I mean are you prepared to risk your life or the life of your family to fight against what you think are the injustices of the Political Party you aren't going to vote for if they get into power?
Of course not! If they get in you'll just whinge for another 4 years. Same with me, same with every single person you know. Because either way, you'll be pretty happy with your lot in life.
Sure, it could be better, it can always be better, but it can also be a lot worse. And as long as it doesn't get too much better or too much worse, you'll remain happy.
And by worse I don't mean having to pay 25% extra on your mortgage, I mean forced into slave camps because your hair kind of worse.
Because unless you're prepared to die for your convictions, which for centuries working class and upper class people were prepared to do, nothing will change.
Change can only come from violent revolution, and violent revolution will never happen on the scale it needs to happen because not only is the logistical possibilities of that occurring again so small because of the huge population, we've been fooled into thinking violence is a bad thing.
Violence isn't bad, it's natural. When the Earth changes it's violent - earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves. When an ecosystem changes it's always violent - fire, flood, famine.
Monday, 12 November 2007
A fool for music
So I've been in Melbourne a week, and listening to PBS.fm the local community radio.
It's fucking awesome. The music they play in the morning is great, a cross of hiphop, funk, jazz, rock and soul. It actually wakes me up and has made me interested in
Although I think the presenters talk a little too much, at least they're not the obnoxious pricks that you find on commercial radio. And they're not Jay and the Doctor on Triple J - two unfunny wankers who should have stuck to making music.
Today they had a competition open to subscribers to win tickets to Up & Out, a cinegraphic mash up of Blow Up and Blow Out, two films I studied at Flinders Uni for Screen Studies.
I had to become a subscriber to win, but I thought fuck it, I pay $20 for last.fm so why not pay to support Australian music and radio?
It's fucking awesome. The music they play in the morning is great, a cross of hiphop, funk, jazz, rock and soul. It actually wakes me up and has made me interested in
Although I think the presenters talk a little too much, at least they're not the obnoxious pricks that you find on commercial radio. And they're not Jay and the Doctor on Triple J - two unfunny wankers who should have stuck to making music.
Today they had a competition open to subscribers to win tickets to Up & Out, a cinegraphic mash up of Blow Up and Blow Out, two films I studied at Flinders Uni for Screen Studies.
I had to become a subscriber to win, but I thought fuck it, I pay $20 for last.fm so why not pay to support Australian music and radio?
Sunday, 11 November 2007
Day at the beach
Today I went to Geelong to see Kristy and Paul and Zoe.
An hour train ride there around Port Phillip Bay, and then about 20 minutes to K's house where we had some lunch, then they took me for a drive around the area.
Very lovely, all beachy and sunny. The area reminds me of Victor Harbor in a lot of ways - seaside industrial town in the olden days, but now more of a tourist resort getaway place.
Went to Portarlington and had a dip in the ocean, and then headed to Queenscliff where the Queenscliff music festival is being held in a few weeks - I really want to go to see CW Stoneking.
He's playing Sunday and it's $70 for the day (plus $20 to travel there) but I really can't afford it and don't have the contacts to be able to scam a freebee in Melbourne.
Unfortunately Kristy and Paul are moving back to Adelaide in a few weeks, so I doubt I'll be heading to Geelong much more... at least until I get a car ;)
An hour train ride there around Port Phillip Bay, and then about 20 minutes to K's house where we had some lunch, then they took me for a drive around the area.
Very lovely, all beachy and sunny. The area reminds me of Victor Harbor in a lot of ways - seaside industrial town in the olden days, but now more of a tourist resort getaway place.
Went to Portarlington and had a dip in the ocean, and then headed to Queenscliff where the Queenscliff music festival is being held in a few weeks - I really want to go to see CW Stoneking.
He's playing Sunday and it's $70 for the day (plus $20 to travel there) but I really can't afford it and don't have the contacts to be able to scam a freebee in Melbourne.
Unfortunately Kristy and Paul are moving back to Adelaide in a few weeks, so I doubt I'll be heading to Geelong much more... at least until I get a car ;)
Friday, 9 November 2007
Thursday, 8 November 2007
The outside
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
Melbourne media makes me want to stab!
The news in Melbourne is absolutely pathetic.
Oversensationalised bullshit everywhere you turn.
I thought it was just Andrew Bolt, but it appears to be the all over the Herald Sun.
Sunday's Herald Sun had a story about knifes. One sentence read "Critics say Melbourne's "stab city" reputation has been festering for years, but is only now being taken seriously." but then makes absolutely no mention of who these critics are or where they have been saying it 'for years', at all.
A google search for "stab city" brings up many hits, but bugger all related to Melbourne. You would think that these critics would at least have a blog hit or two!
I realise it's imaginary critics making imaginary comments that is trying to pass for news, but unfortunately the suburban Melbournite dumb fucks believe this tripe day in, day out.
I'm yet to pick up the Age, but I don't hold Fairfax in the highest regard either.
But even the ABC suffers from it! I used to watch ABC news because in Adelaide the presenter was really good, one of the reporters really hot, and the stories were the least sensationalised out of the lot.
Yes, they're biased to some degree, but I don't mind bias. The Herald Sun is biased too. So is the Age. I can see that bias and accept it as part of modern media.
However, the ABC's story about the Beadeez toys that made children sick was so over the top I ended up turning the news off. "Toys banned in all states except Victoria"... "no comment from the manufacturer"... Maybe because it was a PUBLIC HOLIDAY and even I was hard to reach?!
The ABC host is also terrible at reading the news. Where did they dig that fool up from?
It's sad, sad times when the Weekly World News looks like something that rivals the New York Times.
Oversensationalised bullshit everywhere you turn.
I thought it was just Andrew Bolt, but it appears to be the all over the Herald Sun.
Sunday's Herald Sun had a story about knifes. One sentence read "Critics say Melbourne's "stab city" reputation has been festering for years, but is only now being taken seriously." but then makes absolutely no mention of who these critics are or where they have been saying it 'for years', at all.
A google search for "stab city" brings up many hits, but bugger all related to Melbourne. You would think that these critics would at least have a blog hit or two!
I realise it's imaginary critics making imaginary comments that is trying to pass for news, but unfortunately the suburban Melbournite dumb fucks believe this tripe day in, day out.
I'm yet to pick up the Age, but I don't hold Fairfax in the highest regard either.
But even the ABC suffers from it! I used to watch ABC news because in Adelaide the presenter was really good, one of the reporters really hot, and the stories were the least sensationalised out of the lot.
Yes, they're biased to some degree, but I don't mind bias. The Herald Sun is biased too. So is the Age. I can see that bias and accept it as part of modern media.
However, the ABC's story about the Beadeez toys that made children sick was so over the top I ended up turning the news off. "Toys banned in all states except Victoria"... "no comment from the manufacturer"... Maybe because it was a PUBLIC HOLIDAY and even I was hard to reach?!
The ABC host is also terrible at reading the news. Where did they dig that fool up from?
It's sad, sad times when the Weekly World News looks like something that rivals the New York Times.
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
DJ Kentaro, Ca$h Money, Belleruche, Dexter, Bamboos @ the Espy
Well, I had my first night out in
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Nearly done...
*phew*
Pretty much everything is packed.
Just got my PC left, plus a few odds and sods.
Really worried about my decks, speakers, and amp. Bit worried about my PC monitor too. They're not boxed and won't fit into any boxes nicely anyway so I'm worried they might get damaged in transit.
A bit sad I'm going, sad I missed out on seeing people I wanted to see, and I know despite all my bitching about this place I'm going to miss it.
Pretty much everything is packed.
Just got my PC left, plus a few odds and sods.
Really worried about my decks, speakers, and amp. Bit worried about my PC monitor too. They're not boxed and won't fit into any boxes nicely anyway so I'm worried they might get damaged in transit.
A bit sad I'm going, sad I missed out on seeing people I wanted to see, and I know despite all my bitching about this place I'm going to miss it.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
More blogging, more frequently
Well, seeing as how I'm off to Melbourne, I'm going to try and blog more regularly, to keep myself occupied and keep my friends up to date with what's going on...
Friday, 12 October 2007
*memories*...
I wrote this on Feb 2 1989 for an English class.
It won an English award and was printed in the school newsletter.
From memory, we had to write a poem about our summer holidays.
I found it when I was clearing some of my stuff away, ready to be packed.
I also found my old highschool diary, which is from 1986.
God damn I was a fucking wiener.
I signed it off "Crambo". I was beaten up and spat on nearly every day, totally obsessed over one girl, and all in all a total nutcase. I'm sure if I was American I would have shot up my school...
It won an English award and was printed in the school newsletter.
From memory, we had to write a poem about our summer holidays.
Sandcastles stand tall and proud in the sun, dotted all along the beach
looking like they'll stop the incoming sea, and it's evil inhabitants -
like the crab with it's sideways walking and killer claws, the jelly fish
with it's amorphous mass and shocking stinging weapon, and the tiny,
tiny fish acting as infantry, but not doing all that much to help.
But when the awful and powerful sea comes, flooding the primitive moats
and attacking the feeble walls, they can't stop the deadly attack and
fall like a domino stack, so one by one the succumb and surrender to
the mighty sea. And when it decides to leave, it take the castles, leaving
no trace of battle, so more castles can be rebuilt, and defend yet again.
I found it when I was clearing some of my stuff away, ready to be packed.
I also found my old highschool diary, which is from 1986.
God damn I was a fucking wiener.
I signed it off "Crambo". I was beaten up and spat on nearly every day, totally obsessed over one girl, and all in all a total nutcase. I'm sure if I was American I would have shot up my school...
Friday, 5 October 2007
Αφρικανοί πηγαίνουν στο σπίτι
I was in Melbourne this week, and watched the news on Thursday night.
Seriously, the Chaser boys have nothing on Channel 10 Late news...
They showed this old Greek guy, full on Greek accent, barely understandable and who would under normal circumstances be subtitled, talking about how the Africans should be sent home.
It was the single most wonderfully ironic moment I have witnessed on television.
(The title is African's go home in Greek, BTW)
Seriously, the Chaser boys have nothing on Channel 10 Late news...
They showed this old Greek guy, full on Greek accent, barely understandable and who would under normal circumstances be subtitled, talking about how the Africans should be sent home.
It was the single most wonderfully ironic moment I have witnessed on television.
(The title is African's go home in Greek, BTW)
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Melbourne is about to get a whole lot more funky...
Looks like Melbourne is about to get a whole lot more funky, because I just scored myself a position with Krome in Melbourne.
I'll be starting there in exactly 4 weeks.
I'll be Lead Tester, in charge of 10 people, working on a new Xbox360 project.
It's not as exciting as Star Wars which I'm working on in Adelaide, but on the other hand it's not working on a F-ing PSP title...
Never lived outside of South Australia, so I have a tiny bit of trepidation about it all, but on the other hand I've been bitching about needing to get away from Adelaide for years...
I'll be starting there in exactly 4 weeks.
I'll be Lead Tester, in charge of 10 people, working on a new Xbox360 project.
It's not as exciting as Star Wars which I'm working on in Adelaide, but on the other hand it's not working on a F-ing PSP title...
Never lived outside of South Australia, so I have a tiny bit of trepidation about it all, but on the other hand I've been bitching about needing to get away from Adelaide for years...
Sunday, 2 September 2007
The Truth about Ecstasy
I'm really, really disappointed that no journalist has the balls to stand up and tell the truth about ecstasy.
Since Anna Wood, no journalist in Australia has dared question the hardline stance on the drug, even though deaths from the drug have been very few.
Truth of the matter is pure MDMA is one of the least harmful 'illegal' drugs available.
Yes, it causes brain damage in rats, but anything that simply makes a case for rats shouldn't be able to take it.
The infamous "hole in the brain" on Oprah has been proved as precisely what it is - bullshit. The brain scans have been shown to be false, and the scientist involved in initial testing on monkeys to back up this claim somehow mixed his MDMA sample with a methamphetamine sample and drew the wrong conclusions. This was the same scientist paid by the DEA in the 1980s to first investigate MDMA and it's impact on the brain.
There is one guy in the UK who took 40 ecstasy pills a week for 14 years who is severely mentally retarded, but you'd have to be pretty retarded to take 40 a week in the first place.
Even though Australia's ecstasy pills contain little MDMA, and the substitutes can cause both physical and mental health problems, proper testing of pills will reduce some of the harm that can do.
I'm not proposing everyone go out and take the drug. That would just be silly.
But I am amazed that all the Johns debacle has done is made people call for tougher testing.
It's predictably pathetic of the Australian press. These people need to grow a pair and seek the truth, not regurgitate the garbage the Government feeds them.
If anything, Johns has shown that being a regular taker of the drug has little impact on an individuals performance within society.
And isn't that what they whole drug debate is meant to be about - limiting the impact of harmful drugs on individuals, ensuring people performing well in society?
Isn't that what makes someone who drinks a bottle or two of wine a night but can still go to work the next day "better" than a bum who does the same but doesn't go to work?
Since Anna Wood, no journalist in Australia has dared question the hardline stance on the drug, even though deaths from the drug have been very few.
Truth of the matter is pure MDMA is one of the least harmful 'illegal' drugs available.
Yes, it causes brain damage in rats, but anything that simply makes a case for rats shouldn't be able to take it.
The infamous "hole in the brain" on Oprah has been proved as precisely what it is - bullshit. The brain scans have been shown to be false, and the scientist involved in initial testing on monkeys to back up this claim somehow mixed his MDMA sample with a methamphetamine sample and drew the wrong conclusions. This was the same scientist paid by the DEA in the 1980s to first investigate MDMA and it's impact on the brain.
There is one guy in the UK who took 40 ecstasy pills a week for 14 years who is severely mentally retarded, but you'd have to be pretty retarded to take 40 a week in the first place.
Even though Australia's ecstasy pills contain little MDMA, and the substitutes can cause both physical and mental health problems, proper testing of pills will reduce some of the harm that can do.
I'm not proposing everyone go out and take the drug. That would just be silly.
But I am amazed that all the Johns debacle has done is made people call for tougher testing.
It's predictably pathetic of the Australian press. These people need to grow a pair and seek the truth, not regurgitate the garbage the Government feeds them.
If anything, Johns has shown that being a regular taker of the drug has little impact on an individuals performance within society.
And isn't that what they whole drug debate is meant to be about - limiting the impact of harmful drugs on individuals, ensuring people performing well in society?
Isn't that what makes someone who drinks a bottle or two of wine a night but can still go to work the next day "better" than a bum who does the same but doesn't go to work?
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Gig with Superstyle Deluxe (Fri 31 Aug)
Marble Bar, Friday 31 August
Free Entry before 10pm and half price cocktails 9-11!
SuperStyleDeluxe (Dan Holmes & Neil Simons) are responsible for many of the floor rocking Breakbeats and midtempo hits that keep the booty shaking. "Making music you can dance too" has been the aim and moto since the whole concept began.
It started with the mass production of mix tapes titled SuperStyleDeluxe and adventuring into the realms of hip hop- Breaks Disco etc. All laden with a sprinkle of Turntableism this became the trademark for the young superstyedeluxe and selling them at the local legendary club Stump Juice based in Wolverhampton UK where Dan (the DJ) up held his residency with those heavy weight Latinos The Capoeira Twins. Population and demand for the mixes snow bald, gaining magazine reviews and reaching as far off as Europe & Canada.
Production and tunes soon started flowing and a record contract was secured with Hamburg's Lounge Records. A barrow load of releases followed all gaining props from the Plump Dj's Krafty Kuts- Mr Scruff for their unique sound and diverse approach to making dance records. Remixes have seen Dido, Bent, Venus Hum, Reno, Pink, Stabilizer, Circuit Breaker & The Strike Boys to name but a few to receive the SuperStyleDeluxe treatment.
The pair have achieved great praise with Breaks poll nominations, number one chartings and worldwide exposure with their releases. This has resulted in a SuperStyleDeluxe record sitting in many a dj's box. The pair are now coming off Brighton's" Heavy Weight" breaks label "SuperCharged/Against The Grain" with the long awaited debut album sitting nicely in the Pipeline. And if that wasnt enough they have just started a brand new label called The Payback Project which is making all the right moves The clubbing circuit has seen the introduction of Mc Chickaboo to the SuperStyleDeluxe DJ show. Recent releases with Chickaboo and heavy touring has placed them among the top DJ/ Mc acts. With tours from Europe, Canada,Australia & Asisa. Their acclaimed shows have been one of the hottest things coming out of the UK.
Locals are: Leezee, Halogen & Funky J
Free Entry before 10pm and half price cocktails 9-11!
SuperStyleDeluxe (Dan Holmes & Neil Simons) are responsible for many of the floor rocking Breakbeats and midtempo hits that keep the booty shaking. "Making music you can dance too" has been the aim and moto since the whole concept began.
It started with the mass production of mix tapes titled SuperStyleDeluxe and adventuring into the realms of hip hop- Breaks Disco etc. All laden with a sprinkle of Turntableism this became the trademark for the young superstyedeluxe and selling them at the local legendary club Stump Juice based in Wolverhampton UK where Dan (the DJ) up held his residency with those heavy weight Latinos The Capoeira Twins. Population and demand for the mixes snow bald, gaining magazine reviews and reaching as far off as Europe & Canada.
Production and tunes soon started flowing and a record contract was secured with Hamburg's Lounge Records. A barrow load of releases followed all gaining props from the Plump Dj's Krafty Kuts- Mr Scruff for their unique sound and diverse approach to making dance records. Remixes have seen Dido, Bent, Venus Hum, Reno, Pink, Stabilizer, Circuit Breaker & The Strike Boys to name but a few to receive the SuperStyleDeluxe treatment.
The pair have achieved great praise with Breaks poll nominations, number one chartings and worldwide exposure with their releases. This has resulted in a SuperStyleDeluxe record sitting in many a dj's box. The pair are now coming off Brighton's" Heavy Weight" breaks label "SuperCharged/Against The Grain" with the long awaited debut album sitting nicely in the Pipeline. And if that wasnt enough they have just started a brand new label called The Payback Project which is making all the right moves The clubbing circuit has seen the introduction of Mc Chickaboo to the SuperStyleDeluxe DJ show. Recent releases with Chickaboo and heavy touring has placed them among the top DJ/ Mc acts. With tours from Europe, Canada,Australia & Asisa. Their acclaimed shows have been one of the hottest things coming out of the UK.
Locals are: Leezee, Halogen & Funky J
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Luna Eclipse
Admittedly I had to use a bit of photoshoppery to bring the moon out clearer, but this is a nice shot of it through the vines on my house...
Long Time No Blog
Hey all, sorry, long time no blog.
Been buzy* lately and haven't had much to write to be honest.
Everything is simply kicking along nicely, nothing much to say about anything except videogames but you can read that over on my ign.blog
I've succumbed to facebook. But you all knew I would no doubt.
I took some photos of the Lunar Eclipse which I'll put on ringo later.
*buzy means "busy and/or lazy". It's a term I just made up. It's good. You should use it.
Been buzy* lately and haven't had much to write to be honest.
Everything is simply kicking along nicely, nothing much to say about anything except videogames but you can read that over on my ign.blog
I've succumbed to facebook. But you all knew I would no doubt.
I took some photos of the Lunar Eclipse which I'll put on ringo later.
*buzy means "busy and/or lazy". It's a term I just made up. It's good. You should use it.
Monday, 13 August 2007
RIP Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson, founder of Factory records and the Hacienda, discoverer of Joy Division/New Order and Happy Mondays, passed away on Friday 10 August, 2007.
He was a true legend, a funny but dodgy geezer, the epitome of the "Madchester" mentality.
He was a true legend, a funny but dodgy geezer, the epitome of the "Madchester" mentality.
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Bands I've seen
These are the ones I remember seeing... There's probably more... And this list doesn't include DJs who essentially just played records...
1200 Techniques
Acyalone
Afro Celt Sound System
Alien Ant Farm
Aphex Twin
Ash
Atari Teenage Riot
Basement Jaxx
Beastie Boys
Beasts of Bourbon
Beth Orton
Black Eyed Peas
Blackalicious
blink-182
Bliss
Blue King Brown
Body Count
Butterfingers
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
Coldcut
Corduroy
Cosmic Psychos
Def FX
Depeche Mode
DJ Shadow
Downsyde
Faith No More
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fear Factory
Femi Kuti
Foo Fighters
Franz Ferdinand
Freestylers
Fundamental
Garbage
Gerling
Gnarls Barkley
Gotan Project
Grinspoon
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Happy Mondays
Headless Chickens
Helmet
Hexstatic
Hilltop Hoods
Hole
Hoodoo Gurus
Hunters and Collectors
Ice T
Iggy Pop
Infusion
Inspiral Carpets
Itch-E & Scratch-E
James Brown
Jamiroquai
Jarvis Cocker
Jebediah
Jet
John Butler Trio
Jurassic 5
Kosheen
KoЯn
L7
Leningrad Cowboys
Live
Lou Reed
Luke Slater Freek Funk
Lyrics Born
Machine Gun Fellatio
Magic Dirt
Massive Attack
Metallica
Midnight Oil
Ministry
Mudhoney
Muse
My Chemical Romance
Mylo
New Order
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nightmares On Wax
Nine Inch Nails
Paul McCartney
Pavement
Peaches
Pennywise
Pet Shop Boys
Peter Gabriel
Phoenix
Pixies
Placebo
Pop Will Eat Itself
Porno for Pyros
Powderfinger
Primal Scream
Primus
Prodigy
Queens of the Stone Age
Rage Against The Machine
Rammstein
Rancid
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Regurgitator
Resin Dogs
Roni Size’s Raprezent
Roots Manuva
Salmonella Dub
Scissor Sisters
Shihad
Silverchair
Skunkhour
Slipknot
Snoop Dog
Sonic Animation
Sonic Youth
Soulwax/2 Many DJs
Soundgarden
Spank Rock
Spiderbait
St. Germain
Stereo MCs
Stone Roses
Supergroove
Superjesus
The Avalanches
The Breeders
The Cat Empire
The Chemical Brothers
The Clouds
The Cruel Sea
The Crystal Method
The Cult
The Cure
The Dandy Warhols
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
The Donnas
The Flaming Lips
The Hard Ons
The Herd
The Killers
The Living End
The Offspring
The Presets
The Rapture
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Streets
The Strokes
The Tea Party
The White Stripes
TISM
Tool
Tricky
U2
Ugly Duckling
Urge Overkill
Violent Femmes
Ween
Wolfmother
You Am I
1200 Techniques
Acyalone
Afro Celt Sound System
Alien Ant Farm
Aphex Twin
Ash
Atari Teenage Riot
Basement Jaxx
Beastie Boys
Beasts of Bourbon
Beth Orton
Black Eyed Peas
Blackalicious
blink-182
Bliss
Blue King Brown
Body Count
Butterfingers
Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
Coldcut
Corduroy
Cosmic Psychos
Def FX
Depeche Mode
DJ Shadow
Downsyde
Faith No More
Fat Freddy's Drop
Fear Factory
Femi Kuti
Foo Fighters
Franz Ferdinand
Freestylers
Fundamental
Garbage
Gerling
Gnarls Barkley
Gotan Project
Grinspoon
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Happy Mondays
Headless Chickens
Helmet
Hexstatic
Hilltop Hoods
Hole
Hoodoo Gurus
Hunters and Collectors
Ice T
Iggy Pop
Infusion
Inspiral Carpets
Itch-E & Scratch-E
James Brown
Jamiroquai
Jarvis Cocker
Jebediah
Jet
John Butler Trio
Jurassic 5
Kosheen
KoЯn
L7
Leningrad Cowboys
Live
Lou Reed
Luke Slater Freek Funk
Lyrics Born
Machine Gun Fellatio
Magic Dirt
Massive Attack
Metallica
Midnight Oil
Ministry
Mudhoney
Muse
My Chemical Romance
Mylo
New Order
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nightmares On Wax
Nine Inch Nails
Paul McCartney
Pavement
Peaches
Pennywise
Pet Shop Boys
Peter Gabriel
Phoenix
Pixies
Placebo
Pop Will Eat Itself
Porno for Pyros
Powderfinger
Primal Scream
Primus
Prodigy
Queens of the Stone Age
Rage Against The Machine
Rammstein
Rancid
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Regurgitator
Resin Dogs
Roni Size’s Raprezent
Roots Manuva
Salmonella Dub
Scissor Sisters
Shihad
Silverchair
Skunkhour
Slipknot
Snoop Dog
Sonic Animation
Sonic Youth
Soulwax/2 Many DJs
Soundgarden
Spank Rock
Spiderbait
St. Germain
Stereo MCs
Stone Roses
Supergroove
Superjesus
The Avalanches
The Breeders
The Cat Empire
The Chemical Brothers
The Clouds
The Cruel Sea
The Crystal Method
The Cult
The Cure
The Dandy Warhols
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy
The Donnas
The Flaming Lips
The Hard Ons
The Herd
The Killers
The Living End
The Offspring
The Presets
The Rapture
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Streets
The Strokes
The Tea Party
The White Stripes
TISM
Tool
Tricky
U2
Ugly Duckling
Urge Overkill
Violent Femmes
Ween
Wolfmother
You Am I
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
PC dead again!
FUCK!!!!
My PC at home is dead again.
This time it appears to be my fault.
Hopefully the power supply has just gone, but it's still annoying because I had a heap of stuff to put online as well as a heap of work to do!
My PC at home is dead again.
This time it appears to be my fault.
Hopefully the power supply has just gone, but it's still annoying because I had a heap of stuff to put online as well as a heap of work to do!
Monday, 11 June 2007
FunkyJ.com now online!
Finally, after upgrades and roll backs of FunkyJ.com for the last 6 months, all of my 2006 interviews from Twenty4Seven Magazine, dB Magazine and inthemix are online!
So please visit FunkyJ.com, read them and then tell your friends! =)
So please visit FunkyJ.com, read them and then tell your friends! =)
I will work at getting the 2007 interviews online over the next week.
Apologies for the lack of formatting on the new articles - the solution to my problem has been to shut off the TinyMCE section of my website, so now I have to write everything in HTML... and I can't be bothered, so no bold or italics in the news stories for the moment.
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