I test the tech that makes the whole world sing...
I’ve been looking into ‘
Voice Over IP’ stuff recently because when I move house I wanna keep my bills down. I don’t really use the phone that much and it annoys me that I have to pay £10 ($20) just to have a phone line for Internet each month.
Actually – that’s a lie, I call my Mum a lot cos I’m a good son. But that’s about it.
Anyway – I decided to go the
Skype route. I’ve been using
SkypeOut when I travel. It means I can call pretty much anywhere in the world pretty cheap from anywhere in the world.
I recently got a
SkypeIn number too. I figured with moving house I should probably get a static ‘land line’ number I can take with me anywhere. What’s great is if I move to Japan, for example, people can still call a UK number and get me at a local rate.
My big plan was to hook it all up with a Bluetooth headset. I figured I needed on of these ‘
Nathan Barleyesque’ devices for when I buy a
HTC Universal (because I’m not holding that beast to my ear!!!).
I found out something interesting about
Bluetooth.
1: The Bluetooth in my Vaio TR1 is Bluetooth in name only and is pretty useless.
2: Bluetooth headsets can’t be paired with two devices.
Both are a bit of a pain in the ass, but I bought a Belkin USB Bluetooth adapter to solve problem 1. Problem 2 is a bit more of a pain. It means that I have to decide which device gets the headset. Plus, Skype doesn’t support Bluetooth headsets natively so you have to pay an additional £10 for
this software.
So – I’m probably going to end up buying a
proper Skype phone for when I move into my new house and maybe
one for my desk at work.
Hey – I’ve just realised this is the most boring post I’ve ever done!!!
Huuurrrraaaahhhhhh.
Nic.
Music Videos...
These are from the ever excellent
Music Thing blog, demo - they are worth repeating here due to extreme coolness.
The first...
...this is a
video of a school percussion group playing a couple of tracks from
DJ Shadow's (saw him on a plane once - claim to fame)
Endtroducing. No... REALLY!!!! I mean jeeeeezzzzzz... how lucky are these kids. When I was at school (and listeners... I WAS going to study music) our teachers had us doing
'Grease' and
'Milk Has Got A (bum bum) Lotta Bottle'. For fuck's sake!! No wonder I design videogames!
This guy deserves the teacher of the century award. The
video is 65meg and worth every second of a download.
Second...
...
Dosh on the
Anticon lable. A damn fine record lable that just happens to have the
CD of the year so far pushed on it. It's a
video of live looping and shows that electronic artist aren't all just number crunchers.
Last but not least...
...the glorious
Kid Beyond. Human beat-boxer and all round
Ableton Live user. This
video not only shows off how great Live is as a music device, but also how insane the vocal chords of Kid Beyond are. Incredible.
Nic.
Advent Children...
I haven't really posted about 'Advent Children'. Sure - I mentioned that it was all other Shibuya, sold out in all stores, and a whole bunch of Cosplay peeps have wonderful new outfits - but I haven't really mentioned the film.
I've watched it about 3 times now. Once in Japan and a couple of times on the train on the way to and from work.
It's something really special.
I can't say I'm following the story blow by blow cos the Japanese DVD doesn't have English subs. There is a 'fan sub' version - but I haven't had a look at that yet.
Do you need to the subs? Not really. In fact if you read the subs you might just miss something. The movie is a feast for the eyes. Truly beautiful.
There's love in every frame. The backgrounds are exquisite. The character models are flawless. The mechanical design is stunning. The action sequences unlike anything I've seen.
The movie is about 60% action, and it's intense. The last half of the movie is pretty much one huge battle sequence - yet unlike, say, 'Bad Boys 2' it never drags, seems ludicrous, or stops to inject some
worthless humor etc.
There IS humor in the movie.
The Turks are funny as hell, almost slap-stick. But the humor is pitched just right. Juxtaposed perfectly with the straight performances of the lead characters.
While watching Advent Children it's easy to forget one of the most incredible things about this movie.
This movie was CREATED BY, FUNDED BY, SCRIPTED BY, ART DESIGNED BY, PRODUCED BY, DIRECTED BY, AND DISTRIBUTED BY A VIDEOGAMES COMPANY.
Okay - Square Enix is not your average videogame company, but still - it's a glimpse of what a motivated and talented (and highly profitable) videogame company can do.
This is nothing to do with traditional film making, Hollywood politics, and compromised vision. This is the movie they wanted to make. You can tell, because simply - it's an amazing experience.
I just wish I could go see it at some high-end, digital projection equipped theater.
Oh...
...and I'm still totally in love with Tifa.
Along with Sin City, this is the film of the year.
Nic.
P.S. I think I might go see Land of the Dead today...
Happy Birthday to...
...Suuuuuuuanie!!!
I'm sure she's ^ here ^ right about now ;)
Nic.
I'm home...
...now I guess I have to move house!!
Nic.
Sugoi bad last minute spend...
DAMN IT!!! I hate HMV here. It always has sugoi good cds on the listening booths!!! I ended up spending motto motto okane on:
Various Artists - The Best of Ryoondo-tea (abstract electronic - Kinda)
DJ Milo - Live at the Cat Club 1979 (Rare groove - kinda)
Caural - Remembering Today (motto abusuturakutu erekutorniku - sukoshi)
Freddy Fresh - The Essential Mix (an orgasmic collection of old school electro)
Alarm Will Sound (performs Aphex Twin) - Acoustica (Jazz versions on Aphex Twin tracks!!!!!!!!!!! SUGOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII)
*sigh* - I can't leave... I need to find an excuse to stay. Maybe when I preyed to God in harajuku he cancelled my ticket and bought me an apartment here... Hmmmmm... I don't think 50 Yen will buy me that somehow...
Nic.
Sugoi hot day...
So hot today!!
Plans changed. C-Chan blew me out. I think she had a 'boy friend headache', which means she prolly told her fiance that she was going to meet me and it caused a real headache.
I guess my reputation preceeds me. Demo - I "never rub another man's rhubarb", unless it wants to be rubbed ;) Besides, I'm saving myself for
Natsuko Tohno. Everyone knows that, right?
[link updated to stop spamming by 'sexy' websites ;) - thanks Dabs]
With the change of plans I decided to do some 'speed tourism'.
This is something seem to have perfected. It basically means - show up a a place, go 'meh', take some photos, move on. When I'm alone in a city - I tend to do this a lot, which is why I prefer to meet up with people or just do business.
Anyway - I started with Ginza, because I've never been. Hmmmm... not my cup of tea. I'm not after a Louis Vuitton bag so I quickly moved on.
Went up to Ueno, which is one of the main parks in Tokyo. Was okay. I prefer the buzz of Yoyogi - but if had a few interesting places.
The lake outside one of the temples...
...was full of koi carpe.
This building would make a really good '
SketchUp' tutorial.
This would be a little harder to build.
I took this picture quickly because I was actually trying to take a picture of these 2 cute parking attendent girls that were trying to break into a car to move it. It reminded me of the anime 'You're Under Arrest!'.
Sugoi cute girls in uniforms.
NEKO WA KAWAII!!!
Me in a
'Beastie Boys' lense.
After blitzing through Ueno I jumped back on the Yamanote line (cos I couldn't find the Ginza line) and headed back to Shibuya. Demo - I jumped off a few stops before to go to Meguro. (Good Lord - I really do sound like Aya-Chan now!!)
I'd remembered there was the famous '
Parasite Museum' there and I decided to try and find it. Now the other thing you need to know about my 'speed tourism' is I never use a map.
Now, be careful kids, cos you can only really do this in cities like Tokyo. Do it in LA and you'll die (oh I LOVE LA...). But Tokyo is a city you can safely explore. I like finding the more 'colourful' spots of the city. Shibuya has lots... Meguro has a few too ;)
However, I didn't find the 'Parasite Museum' :( ah well... I tried.
Headed back to Shibuya to cool off in the hotel. Tonight I AM GOING TO THE
J-POP CAFE!!! I DON'T CARE IF IT IS CLOSED - I WILL BREAK THE DOOR DOWN. Then I'll either be sensible and get an early night. Or not sensible and stay out late.
I've had to restrict myself on not buying anything else. I tried to close my suitcase today.... Hmmmm.... I think a few things will have to be taken out of their boxes. :)
Nic.
Harajuku day...
I went to Harajuku today with Aya-chan and Ikue-chan. Harajuku is a little bit like Camden mixed with Regents Street/Soho in London. The main high streets have big fashion labels. The side streets have more interesting stuff.
On Sundays people dress how the hell they want and meet up outside the Subway Station.
Hai - okama desu.
I felt kinda weird asking them if I could take photos - and I don't want to be too otaku, so we headed to the temple.
Saki for God. I wanna be a God :) Motto motto saki onagaishimasu!!!
Sugoi temple!!!
There was a wedding at the temple... so beautiful! I asked Aya and Ikue to marry me - they declined :P
Speaking of which - we tried to go the J-Pop Cafe today but it was closed for a wedding!!! That is twice I have not been able to go!! Hopefully third time lucky!!!
I wish them happiness for now and for the future.
We then headed to Yoyogi Park to listen to some bands and watch some Rockers strut their stuff in the 'mushi atsui' heat!!
We needed Ice to cool down before listening to the bands.
These guys were fun. Kinda pop punk.
The singer in this band really kicked.
I fell in love with the drummer in this band and her kawaii Yamaha drum kit!!
'Akira the Mummy' wa henna hito desu yo!
This guy danced around with a Yamaha toy synth (forgot the name now - but it was the box version of the DJX) and painted!!
"Japanese Pretty Girls no On-Parade!!"
It all started to clash a little as the population of bands grew...
...but I fell in love with these girls. Kawaii desu ne. I so love geeky girls!!!
"Japanese Pretty Girls no On-Parade - Parto Ni". They were surrounded by otaku :( I haven't talked about the otaku at TGS/Cosplay day yet. It is too distrubing :(
The bands/artists just set up and do there thing. I wish we had this in London. Would be great to walk around Hyde Park all sunday listening to bands. Our band (Wayne, Barns, Gina, and me) HAVE to go play Yoyogi!
Wasn't all guitars and obscure techno performance art... there was some Hipu-Hopu too...
...and the retro-acrobatic stylings of the Japanese 'Backstreet Boys'.
Finished the day off with some dinner. Kyo wa sugoi! Like yesterday. I can feel that it is going to be REALLY hard to leave again.
Tomorrow I am meeting my friend Chisako (C-Chan). Maybe if I can get her drunk we will go do Karaoke and sing Elvis songs!!!
SUGOI!!!
Nic.
P.S. Yes - I have been hanging around Aya (SUGOI!) Chan too much :)
Holiday...
It's a traditional holiday in Japan. I think it's to do with the arrival of Autumn - but I'm not sure. There are lots of things going on around my hotel. Which is great for a lazy tourist like me.
By the way... I LOVE the
Nintendo Revolution controller. It's great to see Nintendo making deeper strides to attract non-gamers/casual gamers to videogames. Thinking about games as fun/entertainment that is accesible to all is exactly what I am about.
For those of us who couldn't care less about polygons per-second and tragically hip marketing policies (yes Microsoft - that is a dig at you) we finally have a champion for the next gen consoles.
Nic.
TGS Day 2...
TGS - first public day and I was there with friends...
I met up with Aya-chan at Tokyo Station at 8:30 this morning... which is a miracle for 3 reasons.
1: Thor, Adam, DC, and me were at a club last night (which was not really my thing) but we didn't get back till 3:30/4:00am and
they had to leave at 6:30 to get on flight home. I had to leave the hotel at 7:45 or I would never have made it to Tokyo Station. I'm tried...
2: Tokyo Station is BLOODY MASSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably the largest subway station in the world.
3: I have never met Aya before!!!
So with those three miracles in pocket we set off for Makahari Messe to meet up with Chihaya-chan.
They love each other really...
The show was much busier than yesterday and I did something I have never done before at a show. Queued to play a game. Aya wanted to play 'Wanda' which was about a 40 minute wait.
Sugoi game - apparently. Because I didn't break my tradition. I didn't actually play it. I did play LocoRoco on PSP - which is amazing - and some more moble games.
After that I was let loose on the Cosplay folks.
Advent Children is VERY popular (and we all know I love Tifa)...
More AC... and another Tifa <3...
Stuuuureeeeetttttfighter desu!
Turks...
Motto motto Adventu chiludureno desu!!
The plan was to go and take more photos after lunch, but we ended up chatting till gone 4 and they wouldn't let us back in. I tried to tell the woman I had a 'meeting' - but she wasn't having it. So I guess my new job as the head of 'All things weird' at Nintendo isn't gonna happen.
So we went to Costco - which was a pretty bizarre thing to do since we didn't have a car and couldn't really buy anything, as much as some people wanted to...
Finished the day with some food and some Purikura...
Tomorrow the plan is to go to Harajuku. I'm meeting Aya-chan and Ikue-chan (who I haven't ever met either!!) at Hachiko... so another miracle will have to be performed!!
Nic.
P.S. I learnt a new 'Japanese phrase': "Sugoi boiyoiyoi" - which means "Impressive breasts". My other new favorite phrase (again not exactly 'Japanese') is "Japanese pretty girls no On-Parade desu!" taught to me by Kae after looking at my blog yesterday :)
P.P.S. I should point out that as of today I'm on holiday here for a few days... NOT WORK!!!
Okama game...
My friend Kae reliably informs me that there are two Okama (transvestites) in my list of lovely ladies. She told me to guess... so I did - and now I throw the game over to you.
If it's the lovely Konami baseball girl - well, maybe I found the reason I'm single :)
Nic.
TGS tomorrow...
It's the Tokyo Game Show tomorrow - so hopefully this blog will get interesting again. Until then... this is what I have bought so far (not including gifts for people).
Tokyo is 'Final Fantasy 7' crazy at the moment with the release of Advent Children. There are loads of huge posters for the movie all round the Shibuya skyline. I picked up a Tifa (my future wife!) and Vincent figures. Also a copy of the movie which I'm going to watch tonight. Then there's a Doromon key chain for my backpack. Some CDs. New today are the first 'Hifana' album (those guys are really good) and a 'Ryo The Skywalker' album (I love 'How to Hunt in the Bush'). The T-Shirt is from 'Gundam'. I just like the retro Atari look of it ;)
So as Angel will no doubt bully me about - all geeky stuff!
Here's a random pic of the view from my balcony.
As you can see - it's not the Hyatt, but I like it here. Lots of things on your doorstep and you do feel like part of the city. I found a great music shop today selling lots of DJ gear and MPCs. It's 30 seconds from my hotel. Shibuya is great.
Nic.
Consume!!!
Wow - things sell out fast here in Tokyo. I went to go get a GameBoy micro (famicom edition) for a guy at work and they had sold out. So I thought I would pick up another copy of Advent Children - that is sold out too. I touched up a white PSP today... didn't buy it - but no doubt they will be sold out by tonight.
In other news, I have a scar on my face. On the left side of my lip. About 1cm in length going verticle. It looks well healed, like I had a childhood accident. Thing is - I don't remember ever seeing it before or any events in my childhood that would have lead to it. It begs the question - just what did happen last night when I blacked out :D
Nic.
Tokyo Stay - Shibuya...
When in Tokyo, we rest our heads at the 'Tokyo Stay'. It's cheap - cheerful - good location - got fast free interent - and frequented by really famous people like
these guys.
However, there is a sinister side to the Tokyo Stay... and it's not just the endless supply of very young, very blond, very skinny, very european models that stay here (meh). No...
The sinister thing about Tokyo Stay is...
THE BREAKFAST!
The food? Well - it's not so good, but the truely sinister thing about breakfast is THE MUSIC.
For two days now they have been playing '
All Saints'. Not the whole album you understand. Just one random track, on loop, all the time.
Yesterday it was 'Booty Call', today is was 'Never Ever'.
Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah... Never Ever... blah blah...
My mind - I tells you - it cannot take it.
Tomorrow - I take my mp3 player to breakfast.
Nic.
"It's-a-meeeeeeee..."
Mario!!!
Lots of videogamey stuff happening in Japan this week.
GameBoy micro came out today (which is why I met Mario). '
Advent Children' is out tomorrow.
White Sony PSP on friday (will probably buy one). And it's
Tokyo Game Show week as well. Good week to be out here I think ;)
I spent most of the afternoon trying to buy a pre-paid phone. Hmmmm... There are phones EVERYWHERE in Shibuya - but they are all contract. When I did find one it was in an AM PM convenience store and the guy spoke no english and (god bless him) tried to explain what I had to do to get it. So complex!!! Watashi wa nihongo ga jouzu jaarimasen!!!!
I think it's time for international roaming to grow up and cost less.
Today I bought some
Totoro toys for my friend Kae's son and some CDs from HMV. '
Mouse On Mars - Live 04' - '
Sonar 2005' - '
Hifana - Channel H' - and last but not least '
Halcali DVD with Bonus Remix album'!!!!!!!! I want to marry Halcali <3 (yes - both of them... I am so greedy!!)
"eerektoric sensai is in da house!!!"
Nic.
Memo to myself...
...NEVER EVER EVER GET ON THE BAD SIDE OF
SUANIE!!! Not after she did
THIS TO ME :)
Nic.
"Let's take a quaff of milky mild coffee..."
"This is big in size and rich in taste."
YES - I'm back in Japan!!! The place that asks, "Are you good smoker?"
Flew BA this time - first and last time. I was really impressed with Virgin last time I flew here - BA... crappola. Flight was full, food was awful (they SHOULD just fire that catering company based on the food I ate), no TiVo styleee entertainment. Bah!
OOoOOoooOOo adverts for the GameBoy micro :) Japanese TV is nuts... I love it. It's like terrible European TV, but it's kawaii so all is forgiven.
So - yes... what was I saying? Okay - just landed. Going to have a shower and go get something to eat. It's MUSHI ATSUI still here. I forgot how humid it is. Going to try and buy a pre-pay phone. Nihongo don't fail me now!!!
I'll be heading out to the Tokyo Game Show later this week so expect pictures from that and anything else I stumble upon along the way. Maybe one day soon I will be able to tell you why I am spending so much time in Japan ;)
Oh - finally. Hopefully this is a good omen.
System Rush got 9.5 out of 10 in
this review :)
Nic.
Busy, Buzzy, Bumble...
...God I miss HER... but yes - I'm busy again. Just enough time to say:
1: I'm flying to Tokyo again tomorrow. Will blog it and take photos etc.
2: I've had an offer accepted on a house.
Nic.
"You taste better when I'm drunk"...
So - I think I stumbled onto something lastnight with my drunken snack... I decided to give it another go this morning and got this...
I call it 'Drunken Sushi' - because you can make it when drunk. It's essentially the same thing as last night, (cottage cheese on nori with salad leafs) except I added some different salad (peppers, spring onion, tomatoes) and sliced it up like sushi. You can add fish (like smoked salmon) or meat (sliced ham or something - chicken would be good) if you like, but this is one is vegi.
Thing is right.. it takes maybe 5 minutes to make, is VERY healthy, and has NO CARBS!!!
I have created a SUPER FOOD!!!!
I should drink more...
Nic.
P.S. NOW!!! Can I have my celebrity cooking show on UK TV Food...
Drunken (Bento) Boxing...
So - not exactly drunk, but... had a couple glasses of wine and felt like a little snack. While most westerners will dive for the chips and dips, I decided to take this route...
Some nori, cottage cheese, fresh ground pepper, and salad. Roll and eat.
NOW can I have my own UKTV Food cookery show!!!
Nic.
Listen with MUTHA...
I decided to strip back my AE profile before it's second demise (don't ask if you don't know...), but I thought I'd save the little story I wrote to frighten people off and post it here.
“It’s blowing a blizzard”. He shuts the door with a wheeze of air. “But what about Michael?”, she asks, her lips stiff with anxiety. “Michael’s already dead. He’s nothing now but firewood”. She looks over at Michael’s limp body pressed up against the glass. “But he was just...”. She trails off. Finishing the sentence would only make him suspicious. “We got to make sure everything’s in place for when they come”. He grabs a rag and starts to douse it water. “Let it freeze to your hand”, he gestures calmly – “Then rip it off to reveal the bone. It’s the only way we can show them what happened”. She hesitantly takes the rag and wraps her limp right hand. He soaks a second rag and does the same. “If they want to see what the world looks like from thousand miles high – we’ll show them”. He clenches his teeth. His hand goes numb. She looks on in terror. Sickness hits her stomach. Sickness of fear, sickness of passion. “Ready?”, he nods to her, teeth still clenched. Her gaze is drawn to the floor. Tiny spots of blood are beginning to form, but from where? “Wait. Something’s wrong”. Her eyes scan the room. Something is definitely wrong. The cold blinds the obvious, waiting for a moment of clarity. It hits. “Where’s Michael?”...
…“What do you mean? Focus. You have to focus or they won’t believe us”. The last embers of the fire fizzle out, defining the moment. “I mean where’s Michael?”, her eyes still scouring the room. He pauses for a second. It’s all they need. The whistling of the storm decreases and for a moment there is nothing but the sound of staggered scraping from the light fittings. “It’s too late”. “He was just here!” her mind distracted – focused on her lost goldfish. “We have to do it now! If we don’t…”
Nic.
Blog for the Spider in my bathtub...
Hello spider...
...this is the way out...
...good luck
Nic.
Burn Hollywood Burn...
I'm moving... as I've already bored you all to death with. But one of the things I've been doing is putting all my 'media' into large folders. A month or so ago I shelled 400 CDs and but them in a huge wallet folder thing.
Today was the turn of about 300 DVDs...
...I also did all my PS2/XBox/GameCube games. All the old Dreamcast/PSOne/Saturn/Other games are already in folders.
I want to move 'lite'.
Nic.
Hat love...
I love my hat...
...but my work colleges think I'm nuts for wearing it in the summer time. I was forced to wear it the other day cos my hair was such a mess!! So what - guys can't have bad hair days??? And why is it okay to wear a baseball cap - but not my super cool (admittedly - meant to be for a girl) hat????
So am I 'a bit touched'...
...or is it cool???
Or - is this just another excuse to put up pictures of me pouting???
Feel free to leave torrents of abuse (or just .torrents) in the coments :D
Nic.
Re-Markable...
Wow... Propellerheads are now giving away 'Rebirth', the software that pretty much launched the whole 'studio on a PC' trend back in 1997.
Rebirth is an emulation of 2 x TB-303 (the classic acid bassline synth), an TR-808 (the classic Hip-Hop/Electro/pretty much everything even today drum machine), and in V2 a TR-909 (sample based with very distinctive sounds, especially the crash cymbals).
ReBirth is great fun to mess about with, and if you've always wondered where to start making music on a PC, start here - so long as you want to make tecnho/acid/electronic music. It's simple to get your head round and it's interface is clean and 'non-threatening' (unlike a lot of music software).
The only downside to Rebirth (and the main reason I have stopped using Reason) is that it doesn't sit in your sequence as a VSTi device. Instead you have to Re-Wire it in to the main sequencer. Personally (or at least in the case of Reason) I just found this just too 'fiddly' and there are enough great quality, free, VSTi synths out there that just slot into your sequencers it just didn't seem worth it anymore.
Rebirth is a much simpler beast, so maybe I'll try the whole Re-Wire thing again with that.
Get your free copy of Rebirth
HERE.
Nic.
Lusty Tech...
I'm so after one of these right now...
It's the perfect phone for me...
...because I hardly ever make calls...
...but I do watch movies, listen to music, run Yahoo Messenger etc...
...and it's 3G so it will work in Japan (unlike my trusty 2.5G Smartphone).
But then again - maybe I should justget one of these...
Yes - this post was just another excuse to put up a picture of Doraemon!!
Sources:
ePrice and
Akihabara NewsNic.
