A couple of weeks ago I caved in under my own internal pressure and ordered a 46” LED-backlit LCD TV, Samsung’s UE46D5005PW. I’ve yet to actually hook it up to cable, but after a little calibration I got pretty pictures coming out from XBMC on my laptop over HDMI.
Then today, I ended up poking around some more in the menus and discovered the license section pictured above. The TV is running Linux with BusyBox, GTK, SDL, ffmpeg and several other packages installed. How cool ain’t that? Apparently Samsung has been building Linux firmwares for several years now, I had no idea. It does however seems like Samsung started encrypting their firmwares about a year ago, which is both sad and irritating because it’d be so cool to be able to run software like ScummVM and get PVR functionality on it.
But then again, I wasn’t expecting the TV to be more than a TV to begin with. Plugged in a USB flash drive containing HD x264 video in an MKV container, and it was played back perfectly! This won’t be replacing XBMC any time soon, but it’s nice to see that TV set firmwares are improving and might eventually become useful. Also, I probably get geek bragging rights and super e-penis for owning a Linux TV.
Kinda want to play some Gamecube games again now that Dolphin can make them look pretty with filters and antialiasing, but my shitty computer doesn’t have the power to run them at stable speeds…
My previous attempt at writing here didn’t go so well. I did start typing, but before the first draft was finished I realized that over half of what I written had nothing to do with the topic at hand. It didn’t make sense at all. Might do another attempt, but then again I haven’t been in a very wordy mood lately.
I’m planning to do “30 days of video games” posts, one per day, following the stylistic template of enigmaopoeia, who is basically utilizing tumblr in the same way I did back when writing about games. Recently I’ve been playing a lot more than I’ve done for the whole last few years, so it could be interesting with a little recap anyway. But but. So that’s how it is. So we’ll see what happens. We’ll see.
![Betwixt & Between posted his notes on Nanosecond Eternity’s tracks and an apology on his blog, so I’ll do a quick translation in case anyone else likes reading liner notes as much as I do.
Apology: In the 9th track, hydra (Long edit), there’s some small noise around the 0:11 mark.Excuse: hydra’s original project file had disappeared so a 2mix wav was all I had at hand, but no matter what I wished for people to listen to this tune. Please excuse me.
たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪 (The Wandering of Hesotaro Tankobu)First released on a mix CD over at Alba’s [Alabaster’s] place.It’s being argued about the tune’s genre over in the comments section on YouTube, but me myself don’t really know what to call it. Basically there are too many components being mixed together in my tunes, I think many of them are impossible to categorize.
out of Blue: Bass – Takashi ShintoI asked my friend since junior high school to help me put in some live bass. I was thinking I wanted to try something different from the usual, and besides, work from other collaborations had piled up at the time. I’m quite fond of this tune. The title comes from the fact that Shinto was playing by the blues scale. Simplicity (lol)
Pain KillerBecause of pain coming from a cavity, I got pain killers from the dentist, and while I was taking them I produced this track, thus ending up with this title (lol)I wanted to do a tune where there’s 1 bridge with a small break afterwards, and then the synth from that blends with the first one and becomes 2 bridges!
Paradoxical SilenceI wrote this tune specifically for the Osaka HARDCORE INFECTiON special CD in March. It’d be a waste to have it released only there so I threw into this album.
City of solitudeWas it XTC-ism? It’s old and has become unavailable, but it’s a nice tune I wanted to put in here. Yeah, I’ve been producing weird tracks for a long time.
IsolationI was thinking I’d make some straight Hard NRG, but the intro is mainstream hardcore-ish (lol)
Gravity’s RainbowA relatively old unreleased tune. When listening again it was good, so I included it.
Unseen entitySometimes I want to try making some UK hardcore-ish tracks, but it ended up as a tune I don’t understand ＾＾☆
hydra (long edit)It’s a long edit of the tune included in suga-kun’s [suge’s] CD. I’m sorry for the noise that ended up in there. It’s not just longer. The sound is also increased!
Nanosecond EternityThe title track!! I was trying to make something mainstream-ish but the scent of NRG is strong (lol) The kicks are too hard
AwakeningThis is also old. But, even if I said my reason for creating an album was to publish this tune, it wouldn’t be exaggeration!!!!!!I want to listen to this track roar while watching the morning sunrise!
たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪 (Proteus Remix) - Remixed by DJ ProteusLoaded with Proteusness! You recognize Proteus’ sound at once when listening to it. Thank you Proteus! kiitos paljon!!
If you still haven’t gotten this CD, it’s now available on Amazon Japan with domestic shipping, and via Guhroovy’s Hardrave Store for international orders.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lflcj3qQfK1qz7poxo1_500.jpg)
Betwixt & Between posted his notes on Nanosecond Eternity’s tracks and an apology on his blog, so I’ll do a quick translation in case anyone else likes reading liner notes as much as I do.
Apology: In the 9th track, hydra (Long edit), there’s some small noise around the 0:11 mark.
Excuse: hydra’s original project file had disappeared so a 2mix wav was all I had at hand, but no matter what I wished for people to listen to this tune. Please excuse me.たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪 (The Wandering of Hesotaro Tankobu)
First released on a mix CD over at Alba’s [Alabaster’s] place.
It’s being argued about the tune’s genre over in the comments section on YouTube, but me myself don’t really know what to call it. Basically there are too many components being mixed together in my tunes, I think many of them are impossible to categorize.out of Blue: Bass – Takashi Shinto
I asked my friend since junior high school to help me put in some live bass. I was thinking I wanted to try something different from the usual, and besides, work from other collaborations had piled up at the time. I’m quite fond of this tune. The title comes from the fact that Shinto was playing by the blues scale. Simplicity (lol)Pain Killer
Because of pain coming from a cavity, I got pain killers from the dentist, and while I was taking them I produced this track, thus ending up with this title (lol)
I wanted to do a tune where there’s 1 bridge with a small break afterwards, and then the synth from that blends with the first one and becomes 2 bridges!Paradoxical Silence
I wrote this tune specifically for the Osaka HARDCORE INFECTiON special CD in March. It’d be a waste to have it released only there so I threw into this album.City of solitude
Was it XTC-ism? It’s old and has become unavailable, but it’s a nice tune I wanted to put in here. Yeah, I’ve been producing weird tracks for a long time.Isolation
I was thinking I’d make some straight Hard NRG, but the intro is mainstream hardcore-ish (lol)Gravity’s Rainbow
A relatively old unreleased tune. When listening again it was good, so I included it.Unseen entity
Sometimes I want to try making some UK hardcore-ish tracks, but it ended up as a tune I don’t understand ＾＾☆hydra (long edit)
It’s a long edit of the tune included in suga-kun’s [suge’s] CD. I’m sorry for the noise that ended up in there. It’s not just longer. The sound is also increased!Nanosecond Eternity
The title track!! I was trying to make something mainstream-ish but the scent of NRG is strong (lol) The kicks are too hardAwakening
This is also old. But, even if I said my reason for creating an album was to publish this tune, it wouldn’t be exaggeration!!!!!!
I want to listen to this track roar while watching the morning sunrise!たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪 (Proteus Remix) - Remixed by DJ Proteus
Loaded with Proteusness! You recognize Proteus’ sound at once when listening to it. Thank you Proteus! kiitos paljon!!
If you still haven’t gotten this CD, it’s now available on Amazon Japan with domestic shipping, and via Guhroovy’s Hardrave Store for international orders.
Just stepped out of the bathroom, after soaking in the tub for about an hour while drinking beer. Feel like an old man, and my hands have wrinkled up enough to look like I was one too. I like it hot, the water I mean, and drinking beer when you feel like you’re gonna pass out the next second is the best beer your ever gonna drink. There’s a small con though, getting drunk on two cans makes me feel like a pussy cat.
It’s getting close to the end of the year, and I was thinking back while in the tub, getting all nostalgic. I think one of the biggest surprises this year was when I got back to Japan, hardly without having studied after going back home, and watching some stupid variety show on TV, understanding almost everything that was said. Back in January when I left Japan for home I could understand half of what was happening at best. Of course, this doesn’t only apply to TV, but also daily life, which has now gotten a lot easier thanks to increased proficiency in all aspects of the language. I’m often told I should study harder, but to be honest I think I’m doing pretty good via passive studying aka immersion. Gotta learn to read and write soon, though!
![Forget what was written yesterday, Betwixt & Between’s new album is called Nanosecond Eternity and to be released on the HARDCORE TANO*C label.
I’ve done a quick translation of the album description:
The radiance of this moment, becomes a blaze through eternity! Listen, to the tale of the final dream…
A solo album from HARDCORE TANO*C’s Betwixt & Between is finally appearing!Re-recordings of famous tunes, and completely new productions make up a whole 12 tracks!!Moreover, DJ Proteus’ remix is also included!
TRACK LIST
たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪
out of Blue [Bass played by Takashi Shinto]
Pain Killer
Paradoxical silence
City of solitude
Isolation
Gravity’s Rainbow
Unseen entity
hydra (long edit)
Nanosecond Eternity
Awakening
たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪(Proteus Remix) [Remixed by DJ Proteus]
The album will cost 1890 yen and be available at TANO*C’s booth at Comiket on the 30th, before going on regular sale on the 7th of January.](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldo9f5CiE01qz7poxo1_500.jpg)
Forget what was written yesterday, Betwixt & Between’s new album is called Nanosecond Eternity and to be released on the HARDCORE TANO*C label.
I’ve done a quick translation of the album description:
The radiance of this moment, becomes a blaze through eternity! Listen, to the tale of the final dream…
A solo album from HARDCORE TANO*C’s Betwixt & Between is finally appearing!
Re-recordings of famous tunes, and completely new productions make up a whole 12 tracks!!
Moreover, DJ Proteus’ remix is also included!TRACK LIST
- たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪
- out of Blue [Bass played by Takashi Shinto]
- Pain Killer
- Paradoxical silence
- City of solitude
- Isolation
- Gravity’s Rainbow
- Unseen entity
- hydra (long edit)
- Nanosecond Eternity
- Awakening
- たんこぶへそ太郎の放浪(Proteus Remix) [Remixed by DJ Proteus]
The album will cost 1890 yen and be available at TANO*C’s booth at Comiket on the 30th, before going on regular sale on the 7th of January.
Betwixt & Between - Hesotaro Proteus Remix - Preview by Proteus Official
It’s been a while. Just a few days ago, Proteus uploaded this banging Hesotaro remix to his SoundCloud account, and it’s a real killer take on the original. In the past I didn’t like Proteus’ industrial-ish sound, but it’s been growing on me, and I imagine this track would get the floor moving if played at an NRG event.
Finally, Proteus comments on the SoundCloud page that this track is soon to be released on Betwixt’s next album, so it seems like we can be expecting a new TOTAL DISCOMMUNICATION release in a couple of weeks if assuming it’ll be put on sale at Comiket.
So, I’ve finally jumped on the bandwagon and masturbated using the Rez Trance Vibrator.
It was a bit of a lonely night. Not two hours prior to this would-be gorgeous situation, I’d been having some splendid, saliva-boiling sex with a girl whose psychology, if X-rayed, would reveal the image of a horse on fire approaching a brick wall. She was a secretary for the yakuza. She was medium-pretty and proud of it. She had a good pair of hand-filling breasts and an actual ass. It’s really hard to find an ass like that on girls in this country. I’m not bragging about this situation — it was something that the two of us did, because it was available to us. Man! Nothing like a girl who can sweat. She had absolutely no shame about dripping all over the place. And there were techno lights just blaring everywhere; she was a writhing human disco ball. Just six months prior, I’d met her and didn’t like her. She didn’t even like me, either. Man! We were really angry at each other. And then time flowed by a little bit, and we were like two pistols pointed at each other. She had lovely lips; I guess that was her best feature, if you’re going to catalog her features in a place for public consumption.
The techno lights were brought to me live courtesy of an Xbox 360.
Olof Gustafsson is indeed a renowned tracker artist, but Alek remade the Pinball Illusions intro track under his Paokala alias and made it sound even better than it ever did. It’s fun to hear tunes that clearly influenced Alek’s style, starting out as a tracker artist before getting to the point of playing a huge role in defining Finnish hard dance.
- Alek Száhala – Sunray (Unfinished Forever Edit) [play/download]
- Carbon Based & DJ Rx – Titor Quantum Theory [play/download]
- Aryx - Chaldea [preview]
- Betwixt & Between - point of no return
- Alek Száhala - Astraia
Narrowing May’s absolute top tracks down to just five proved to be extremely difficult, maybe I should start doing tens from now on. It was a busy month, and those moments there was time to sit down and enjoy beautiful melodies thus became a huge relief, to the point I was tempted to just start dancing, although that’d be a really awkward thing to do inside a train. Oh well.
On another note, the production quality of Slovenia’s new freeform producer Aryx is simply breathtaking, and I sincerely wish to see more coming from him. Other tracks that I’d have mentioned if the list was longer (this is kind of cheating), include Substanced’s Crank Cleopatra [play/download] and IAF’s Kinky [download].
