Hardcore update

Check out the following sites: 1, 2 and 3; 4 and 5 for more info.

What's going on? Stickman from Fury of V started a new band this year called 'One Man Army'. Ok. Well, they've now called it quits and their site is already off Myspace. Stickman is already looking for a new project. Meanwhile, Boxcutter will release a new album at the end of this year.

News. Lots of it.

• Microsoft is in the process of making robots apparantly. Spooky.
• I wonder if Koen ever heard of the political party 'The Pirate Party' in the US?
• For Koen and others who are concerned about personal privacy: spooky part 2.
• For Nicole: what high energy prices can do for the environment in business. An example. And there's criticism on Hawking's statement about going into space to save ourselves.
• I luv geopolitics. Here's one about oil. Apparantly Saudi-Arabia is trying scare-tactics. How fashionable.
• Soon there will be a TV channel for just about anyone.
• Will Africa's economic development outpace its population growth rate? And what will be China's role?
• Nicole and Tomas might be interested in the subject of epigenetics.
• An interesting invention relating to the colorcode project is this.

Ghetto

Today news came out on the national tv that a racial fight occured in a local ghetto in Flanders where native and alien residents lived apart for ages. There was talk of iron baseball bats and four injured. The natives appeared to have provoked the rumble. Windows are smashed, doorbells burnt. Etc. Are it really 5 buildings of social housing mayhem, that neigbourhood? I still doubt so.

Why do I mention this? I'm going to live there. Tomorrow I'll get my keys, I've waited two years for finally a place of my own. I've got no other choice for now, the rent in private housing is going to the roof overhere. I hope to soon relocate to a somewhat 'nicer' environment though, some 8 km (approx. 5 miles) further where I can stay in a home that's specially adapted for disabled people like me.

XFingers crossedX My doorbell was one of them...

I always knew 50 was cheap

• 50 cent is living up to his name.
• I had an interesting discussion with Nicole today about responsability problems in contempory society. The courts are busy apparantly.
• My car broke down today. Aaargh!! So many problems now. Re-aaargh. (ok, I still have a full stomach=)

Various

• Atleast in Bolivia the leftwingers have some ideas...
• And what is causing the continuous drop in crime in NY?
• Nicole is busy formally starting up the business of the colorcode project.
• I hate gossip... so none here.

Damn(ation A.D.) good!

Show review HC gig at Hof Ter Loo in Antwerp (18/06/2006)

Me and Koen arrived when The Setup started and skipped it right away. But then... Damnation A.D. started: tight, sharp, honest combination of working-class bravour and college-kid technique. They had their own sound and style. Great class (although if they'd played longer it would've been be too much)! Lousy T-shirts though. I bought myself a sober one from Ringworm and skipped the next band. Ringworm itself was hard in a good way, but I took notice of the lazy comateus attitude of the audience. And I applaud that there are more women in the scene nowadays if only it wouldn't be a sign of HC losing its edge overhere. Most Precious Blood was great. Never saw a 'taliban' member and a woman on stage in a HC show but here they did. Darkest hour was cool but we left because we are such snobs. Nonetheless, best show all year (and we're only half way).

An Addendum

Before I forget:

• There's a new political party being started in Britain by members of Spiked. Very interesting. Let's hope this virus spreads across all Europe.
• The show of Kickback in Antwerp on 07/05/2006 was fun, but unfortunately they didn't play any new material. But Cochez told me that they will release a split with Arkangel. We'll keep our fingers crossed. I taped the show and the band asked me to send me a copy. But I haven't done that yet. I soon will.
• The show of Hatebreed in Antwerp also on 10/06/2006 was quite disappointing. It wasn't that inspiring. But I had a pleasant time with Cochez' friends. Cool people.

This big, old world is changing (part 4)

These ones are for Nicole:

• A.I. and A.A.I..
• The benefits of thinking in neural networks. And of electricity.
• I wonder what you all think of 'music intelligence'? Dangerous?
• Nicole, I told you robots could be 'unhealthy'! Huh?

Expect more...

The world is changing (part 3)

• There seems to be enough oil in the US. I'm worried.
• Ugly. More worries. Is a must-read.
• For Koen: 'DMX in trouble again' and 'Hyphy', a new Hip Hop trend.
• Oh yeah, Sony...
• The numbers appear there's significant growing inequality in the US regarding income. Why are we so obsessed about that country?

World is changing (part 2)

The follow-up:

• Hollywood in trouble? And aren't we all journalists now? (These are for Koen and Tomas)
• I'm convinced that market leverages can attribute to a healthier environment if the economy would be more 'wired' in a just way. But since the economy is embedded in daily-life society we could all help to give an incentive, a signal also by e.g. not letting your appliances be left in stand-by. If you care, that is.
• Is Koen up-to-date with what's going on in Guantanamo? Only he knows, haha. It's a classical left-wing theme, isn't? The proclaimed hypocrisy of the US when it comes to democratic values and human rights in particular.
• I end with a funny note.

World is changing

So ok, I'm motivated again to do this. Here goes:

• There's this issue about happiness. I agree with the article (Spiked doesn't) because I think we should dramatically reassess our priorities as a society. Towards what? Well, towards fine-tuning our relations quality-wise with our environment in general. I don't like the vain posturing of e.g. on-line relationships where people think they are really popular and socially healthy when sustaining all these chat-friends. I unlearned that behaviour, let me tell you.
• If I may believe the news there's a brighter future for the economic development of Africa. There's alot to say about it. Benefits of capitalism?
• More on the ambitions of the third world: Is there hope for pariahs in India? Can China maintain its insane balancing act towards prosperity on all fronts? Is Indonesia getting its act together? All can not be answered in these articles (definitly not!) but atleast you might get an oversight.

Short of time

I'm too busy to be able to deliver regular updates anymore... I'll keep you posted though if there are any changes.

Breakdown

No, not 'Breakdown' the band... I didn't get my post through yesterday.

I've only got one news item, and that's for Nicole, concerning the waste of stand-by power. Not to be underestimated.