Aleph Ersatz

If we put half as much energy into fixing social problems like homelessness and the environment as we do going to war over the high price of a toy we may actually progress as a society.

- Cameron in a Forture Magazine Blog Reply

The first annual KamFest: Rally for the Cure was this past weekend, and despite the inexorably small turnout, it was a success.  The idea was to get as many cars and motorcycles as possible, drive to the Wispering Springs / Clinton Indian Band (WSCIB) reserve and have a camp out with live bands and other things.  Unfortunately, only a half-dozen bikes and a couple of cars showed up, but it still went ahead.

I was involved in this because the organizer is one of my in laws, and considering he did the entire thing in eight weeks, it was quite the feat.  A lot was done, a lot of effort was put into it and something came out of it: knowledge.  Lots of knowledge on what to do next year to get closer to the advertised 1000 cars and bikes that were desired for the rally.

The main success was that while most of the attendees were all family and friends, it was still a good weekend, a good drive and a great party that night.  The three bands, Bombshella, Interceptors and Rhythm Street kicked ass, the grounds were great and the valley it was localed in is beautiful.  I wish I had brought a camera to take some pictures.  The biggest bonus was that the bands, the grounds and the visitors all showed up and gave their time and efforts in support of cancer research.  The registration fee went entirely to the cancer foundations, the grounds and music was donated, and it all came together well.  Plus, there’s nothing like following my quasi-biker in laws up the Coaquihalla in our family sedan.  Got some strange looks when yelling at them at the occasional stoplight too.

Next year we are all hoping for bigger, better and badder.  I will probably post a lot more about it to raise more awareness, and hopefully help drive for a bigger turnout.  Plus, it’s all for cancer research, so I’m glad to donate my time.

http://kamfest.weebly.com/index.html

Nothing like coming back to 175 spam messages waiting for my “approval”…

Earth Hour - yes, we did it.  We sat in the dark for an hour, and we did it.  But why would I buy into tat long-haired “save the earth” hippie crap?  Because, in the last week, we have gotten hail and snow after the first day of spring!  Here, it rarely snows or hails, but to do so 3 times in one week is uncanny.  Especially since I went out today to walk the dog, and 20 minutes after we got home, it hailed buckets.  I could have been in that…

Ghosts I - IV is the latest album from digital music revolutionary Trent Reznor, aka, Nine Inch Nails.  Ghosts is an experimental project where, as Trent explained on the main NIN site, they spent only 10 weeks making a two CD, for part album.  The album itself is 4 parts, each distintc yet intermixable, and each 9 separate songs.  Plus, it’s entirely “In Rainbows” style: can get the first part free on the site, and purchase the rest as MP3s or actuall CDs + MP3s.  (And the MP3s are 320 KBPS!  Best quality possible!)  And, in true Reznor Fuck-You-Record-Labels! style, the deluxe version has garagband and wave tracks for remixing, and is released under an open source license, so it’s free to copy and share for non-profit purposes!

Ghosts itself it the modern answer to the classical music of old.  The 39 tracks are divided into four equal movements, each with 9 distinct parts.  This style is similar of the expansive Jean Michel Jarre style works, and while it lacks the driven, storytelling lysics of Roger Waters, the musical representation and expression of emotion is powerful and intense.  Recursively comparing it to previous NIN works, Ghosts combines elements ofthe Still sessions, Year Zero and The Downward Spiral era works into an elaborate and expansive blend.  Lots of slow, lots of fast, acoustic and electric mixes, static bursts create an engaging and intensive ambient soundscape tailored for various tastes and musical prowess.

As an experiment, I would rate it a success, and recommend everyone to spend the $5 to buy the high-quality 320 KBPS MP3s!  The free demo only has the first 9 tracks, part I, which is a good sampler but does not have some of the mroe meaty and more expressive songs in the set.  This is a work of music not to be ignored.

On top of this, Trent has invited creative feedback via youtube!  (Probably thanks to the open use license on the music, and independant producing!)  He has invited people to create visuals for any of the ghosts tracks and will host a “film festival” type collection for them.  You can check out more on this via the youtube channel (which is adult access only atm…)

The official channel has an introductary video, and the Ghosts site has a transcript writen up for easier viewing.  This is probably the best way to give appreciation to an artists too, provide them something creative in return for the enjoyment of their art.  If I had the means, I would add something to the ghosts film festival…but for now all I can do is try to hunt down a camera I can upload to youtube with.  However, if anyone wants to make something for the film festival, I am all for it.

Links to check out:

Nine Inch Nails

Ghosts

NIN Official YouTube Channel

NIN Remix Site

A far cry from the last one, my second DS title has been released.  Oddly enough, it’s a sequel to the project I first worked on when I started my game programming career:

Quite a few changes, improvements and new ideas, but still the same basic game I worked on 3 years ago.  I have to say, because I can toot my own horn here, that I’m extremely pleased with the results and it is a great game for the DS system.  It’s also turning out to be quite the sleeper hit!  Has been recognized in the Villiage Voice in New York as such, along with several other online sites.  I’m glad that a game I’ve worked on is starting to get serious recognition, it’s quite the … empowering feeling.

One of the best things about this game is that it makes use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, allowing for multiplayer games, over the internet, against all sorts of people!  While the biggest complaint about this, from all of the reviews I’ve read, is that no one is on the WFC server to play against, I have managed to find a few people while playing at lunch from wor.  (This, in itself, is odd as I’ve never actually played any game I’ve worked on after it shipped…for fun!)  Unfortunately, I am only able to do this at work as my Wireless Router at home does not let me connect to the WFC system from home.  Otherwise, I’d be on there kicking butt and taking names mercilessly!

However, I would like to appologize to poor BONNIE, who I managed to find playing on the WFC system one day…and promptly stomped on both times we played.

If anyone ones wants to challenge a member of the WordJong development team, drop me a line and I may just accept…

In the year 22 H. C. (Holy Century), Humans are an endangered species, and Shinjuku is now a town populated with demons, goblins and monsters. Crime runs rampant, and so together with the national police force, private police forces have been founded to maintain public peace and order.

(more…)

Happy new year!  I know a few people have had a bad year this year, so I’m hoping for the best from ‘08.

I am also resolving to start working against my procrastinative nature …. starting tomorrow.

Cheers!

-Aleph

Finally got my copy of my first published Nintendo DS Game: Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card Game for the DS. Worked my ass of (as usual) to get this baby done, but it came out quite wel and I’m relieved to actually receive the finished product.

Plus, it’s not a cell phone or a casual game, it’s an actual console game with a geeky market! Something some serious gamers might actually play! Yay!

Well it’s been a while since I’ve used my blog….as usual….however it’s not that I have nothing to add, I’ve just been too busy being lazy.  Finally catching up on a bunch of anime, and I found me a reliable manga source, so all is good there.  I hope to update my anime to-watch list with a table, and include a list of manga aswell, as I read them.  Also, if anyone knows where I can pick up cheap copies of Hellsing please let me know.  I must have it! MUST! HAVE IT! My precious!

—-

Finally finished my first photoshop piece in at least 3 years.  I wasn’t happy with it, but I’m participating in a mural at ye olde Graphic-Forums so I had to add something.  It’s nice because a) I have to start using photoshop again to keep the mural going and b) I get to collaborate with a bunch of GF old-timers that I like. It’s win-win-win!

My contribution

The Dream Mural @ GF

Compiled Mural (Thanks to Phunck for this!)

—-

I keep forgetting to check out http://everydayfiction.com …. every day.  Man, I really should sign up to the mailing list.  If you haven’t checked it out (which I highly doubt considering I know who reads this) you really should.  Each day, a new 1000 word, or less, story is posted and each one is by a different writter. Submissions are open so anyone can send in entries too! Maybe, if I ever get off my ass, I’ll submit something too…