The Middle Distance

2009-12-31T15:37:31.064+02:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

I've picked up the same thing after starting t...

2009-08-02T20:45:27.481+02:00

I've picked up the same thing after starting to mix songs in fruity loops and when it's quiet, you pick up sounds that normally wouldn't be audible at all or suddenly you start to develop precision timing abilities, if I can call it that, allowing you to pinpoint some arbitrary event to the second.

we rediscovered puzzles recently and can't get...

2009-07-26T17:52:38.365+02:00

we rediscovered puzzles recently and can't get enough..

Knol looks a bit chaotic, but definitely has poten...

2009-03-25T20:40:00.000+02:00

Knol looks a bit chaotic, but definitely has potential, thanks for the link!

I agree, when I do projects I always go there firs...

2009-03-15T20:25:00.000+02:00

I agree, when I do projects I always go there first and I almost always find what I need, wikipedia has it all. Saves lots of time.

To be honest I have no idea.
CATZ in Canal Walk...

2009-02-09T08:09:00.000+02:00

To be honest I have no idea.
CATZ in Canal Walk used to sell them, as did most Street Fever stores. But the former has closed and the latter now only stocks Converse, Converse-ripped-off-Levi's and New Rock.

Also very good shoes those New Rocks. But heavy for everyday walking but nice for long distance...

Sounds like good quality boots, any idea where I c...

2009-02-08T21:25:00.000+02:00

Sounds like good quality boots, any idea where I can find them? My pair of bulldogs (think they are 4 years old now) is starting to wear out, but I don't wear them very often, a pair of docs will probably last a lifetime :-)

This is something which I haven't done since presc...

2009-01-12T07:26:00.000+02:00

This is something which I haven't done since preschool, makes me wonder if my puzzle building abilities have degraded with time ...

These days kids use drugs to get their imagination...

2009-01-05T12:22:00.000+02:00

These days kids use drugs to get their imagination prickled, very sad indeed!

Well yes and no. I read the other day that only 20...

2008-11-27T14:45:00.000+02:00

Well yes and no. I read the other day that only 20% of games make a profit. So I understand that they're trying to get the little money that they can out of the deal.

I don't mind in-game advertising as long as it's appropriate. Like an advert for 7-up in a game like World of Warcraft would not exactly carry the feeling.

In-game advertising where it works. Otherwise you might as well go watch ESPN.

LOL, so many times have I bought the legal softwar...

2008-11-27T14:35:00.000+02:00

LOL, so many times have I bought the legal software only to find that it's being crippled by DRM garbage, then I download the pirated version anyway, DRM sux!

They need to alter their business model of earning income on games, a good idea would be to sell the game for very cheap only to cover packaging and make it available for download for free, then make money off advertisers paying to put their brands in the game and earn residual income from advertisers.

When the game goes online, make money via membership fees as well as advertisers paying for their brands being on display.

Take a look at the movie Iron Man, with a very limited budget and some cash injection from Audi, they made a stunning movie, Audi got some exposure and the movie made some good cash.

I have myself done this once or twice. I think it'...

2008-11-24T12:30:00.000+02:00

I have myself done this once or twice. I think it's legal, but you might still struggle with patching and online play.

There's always a middle ground that some people ta...

2008-11-21T07:11:00.000+02:00

There's always a middle ground that some people take (admittedly, not too many though).

You buy the game, never bother to open the box, and download the cracked game.

So you own a license, but you can play the game YOU bought when YOU want.

Maybe that's a compromise worth looking at?

This was one of the most informative pieces I've s...

2008-11-21T01:52:00.000+02:00

This was one of the most informative pieces I've seen on this subject. Thanks. Your post is very enlightening. Cheers,

I'm definitely interested in learning this game as...

2008-10-11T18:08:00.000+02:00

I'm definitely interested in learning this game as chess became so boring, maybe I became too good and eventually spoiled the game for myself.
Will make an effort to study this game sometime, can already see it, Go Pizza, Go Tequila :p

I actually used to be a metal hater till recently,...

2008-10-08T17:43:00.000+02:00

I actually used to be a metal hater till recently, and I agreed with a lot of the evil things people say about it... Until I started listening to the Murderdolls. I heard "I Love to Say Fuck" one time, and I was hooked. They aren't telling you to like, go kill people, or anything like that. All heavy metal music is is a way to get out your anger, aggression, and pent up feelings. Like Joey Jordison said in some interview I watched on youtube, they're just all about being themselves. I'm currently a college student at a Catholic school (aka HELL) and I've been accused of being a satanist for listening to the Murderdolls, DevilDriver, Amon Amarth, etc. People need to get used to the fact that we're not leaving, metal music is here just as much as pop, rock, jazz, or anything else. Maybe we have more piercings, or stranger hair, but so what? Get the fuck over it. Just because I have blue hair, piercings, and listen to loud music doesn't mean I'm worshiping Satan.

(PS, if anyone has any good metal bands to introduce me to, please do! I can't get enough!!!)

i agree 100%, my dad freaks out when i listen to s...

2008-08-30T17:25:00.000+02:00

i agree 100%, my dad freaks out when i listen to slipknot or any other screaming metal bands, he tries pulling some bullshit about how its going to" plant seeds in my brain" and ruin my life, how the fuck does my taste in music end in someone thinking im going to (as an example) as said in spit it out, " smear someone with piss and viniger"

my conclusion, you are a real dedicated metalhead and i agree with every word you said in the previous paragraphs.

Its nice to read your blog.Many people dream of ge...

2008-08-28T07:17:00.000+02:00

Its nice to read your blog.Many people dream of getting a guitar and learning how to play. Whether they just want to have fun or dream of being in the spotlight and earning fame and fortune, people just love guitars and guitar music.

A friend showed me Frets on Fire a while back. If ...

2008-08-25T09:44:00.000+02:00

A friend showed me Frets on Fire a while back. If I thought the plastic X-plorer was embarrassing, the upside-down keyboard is not exactly any better...

Besides, with the real guitar alternate picking isn't reduced to hitting 2 buttons really fast...

Try importing Raining Blood from GE3 and playing it as aforementioned.

Haha, Awesome Z

If you like Guitar Hero, yo...

2008-08-24T20:18:00.000+02:00

Haha, Awesome Z

If you like Guitar Hero, you should check out Frets on Fire. It's a PC version, freeware, and all your GH and Rock Hero songs can be imported. THe idea is that you turn your keyboard upside down, hold it like a guitar, and use F1 thru F5 to hit your "strings" and ENTER to strum. Pretty cool all in all. Like you, I thought it was a crappy idea, until I played Smoke on the Water, just once. That got me hooked :)

Unfortunately people will always go for what they ...

2008-08-19T15:16:00.000+02:00

Unfortunately people will always go for what they don't understand or for soft targets. Think how inviting a target Slipknot is - think how terrified your average parent must be of them, purely because of their masks (not to mention stage antics).

It sucks when people point the finger at bands/movies/games when there is clearly a bigger problem with the dude, but I think those of us into alternative subcultures like metal shouldn't be surprised when the blame comes knocking on our door.

Anyway, Slipknot have built their 'scary' image. Their masks and suits are a marketing ploy that have helped increase their fame and they must have done it knowing they'll be misunderstood and blamed for all sorts of things, just as those of us who support bands like them shouldn't be naively surprised when people accuse them of being evil.

It's the price you pay for being different. it doesn't excuse people looking for a scapegoat, but we just shouldn't be caught unawares when it happens.

Thanks for this posting!! I agree and I am quite i...

2008-08-19T11:25:00.000+02:00

Thanks for this posting!! I agree and I am quite irritated with the South African media and their uninformed claims that Satanic Music is the root of all evil.

What about those kids in Durban who killed their folks? That murder was apparently inspired by God. They were very involved in the Christian movement and the one kid claimed he was the 3rd son of God. I never saw anyone confronting Christianity and the possible damaging effects religion can have on a youngster!

Kids do strange things these days and are influenced by various factors other than music and religion.

I am worried that this will cause a wave of Satanic Panic in South Africa and I will surely protest this by writing letters to all the papers that try and sensationalise this incident by blaming Metal and Rock music!

all very well richie, except that Hansie Cronje - ...

2008-08-19T09:02:00.000+02:00

all very well richie, except that Hansie Cronje - a high profile born again christian said that "the devil made him do it" at his trial for his sports "crimes"

... therefore if a preson says that the devil/ satan made them do it it does NOT make them a satanist.

what makes someone a satanist if the fact that they follow the religion of satanism.

listening to metal etc etc does not make you a satanist, or an occultist or a pagan, or a witch: it makes you a metal music fan!!!!!

dont forget that rock and roll, jazz even some clssical music in its day was seen as anti-church/ anti-god.....

and my last point is this: if you ever had the opportunity to engage with mentally ill (psychotic: out of touch with reality) people you would find that hearing voices is one of the most common symptoms. Valkenberg on any given day has a number of patients who might say that satan is telling them lots of things... or their mother....or prince charles... or fred astaire.... or elvis.... or or or or.... the permutations that mental illness takes are many (including religiosity)......

I agree with you 99.9%. Metal is not evil. Tho i...

2008-08-18T22:18:00.000+02:00

I agree with you 99.9%. Metal is not evil. Tho it is true that many of the artists are involved in satanism, or other alternative religions which may be construed by less open-minded people as satanism, it does not make ALL rock musicians and all rock music evil.

That being said, this poor boy was quoted as saying that satan made him do it. That is, in my mind, greater cause to hang the satanist banner around his neck.

But then, Mr Reporter, please have the intelligence to say that this is the reason for the label, and leave all irrelevant references to music out of your report.

Speedy response right there! Thanks!

I need...

2008-07-16T06:53:00.000+02:00

Speedy response right there! Thanks!

I need to hint at a support issue before I get a comment on my posts... Sad, really...