Thunder

A few posts ago I mentioned that I like rain, but what I really love is thunder (and lightning too).
Just few moments ago lightning hit just right around where I live and the most massive rumble hit me just after I registered the flash outside. It sent a shiver trough my entire body and I just stood there with a big smile on my face.
Occasionally there comes another rumble from somewhere in the distance as the clouds releases their built up charges upon our world. But it seems it's already passing on. Too bad. I was hoping for a massive thunderstorm. It's been ages since I've seen one now. If I'm not mistaken I was probably still a child  during the last one. I remember going out to sit on the porch while the thunder almost shook you and the lightning lit up the dark.
Your body tingled from static electricity and pure excitement. Mixed with some fear and awe it made for one excited boy. I probably dreamed about lightning and thunder that night.
It also makes you realize that you're just another part of the world we live in. You feel small and gets taken down a peg for a while. Then it shifts into a childish excitement. You feel as if the lightning and thunder somehow empowers you. Maybe it's the boy and the man fighting for control inside of me?
It doesn't really matter. I'm pretty sure I'll always like thunder, no matter what happens.

You Cannot Live On Hope Alone

"Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child, and the Anita Bryant's and John Briggs' are doing their part on TV. And that child has several options: staying in the closet, and suicide. And then one day that child might open the paper that says "Homosexual elected in San Francisco" and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight. Two days after I was elected I got a phone call and the voice was quite young. It was from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And the person said "Thanks". And you've got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's: without hope the us's give up. I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope."
-Harvey Milk, 1978

Shameless Boasting

This story read here. I wrote it.
Sure, it's not a literary masterpiece of anything. In fact there's one or two things I'm not too sure about. But it's still great fun, and a little frightening to hear your own words coming back to haunt you, so to speak.
Go send Magnus your writing. It is for the betterment of mankind. Why would I lie about something like that?

The Future is Green

The biggest problem with the green energy has always been that it costs too much to produce even a little of it. In the end fossil fuel are always cheaper, and that's usually what tips the scale in their favor.
But by the sound of this, things are starting to happen.
Maybe it's the increasing interest in green living, what with ecological food stuffs, local fruits and veggies, and not to mention green roofing (high end example), that's caused an increased interest in the market? Maybe it's even a cultural shift? Well, not likely, but one can always hope.

Another interesting thing I've heard of lately is eco farming as vacation. You basically go to a farm and help them plant and manage things. You get to learn a lot about farming ecologically, and eat what's produced on the farm while staying there. There's probably some seriously hard work involved. And people do this for their vacation. I find it pretty brilliant. Instead of laying around on the beach of the closest tourist trap you actually learn things and get to do something different. That's probably a big part of the appeal actually.
Here's a link. The site is some sort of hub for countries where they've got their own thing going. So far there's only Sweden and Portugal. Time will tell if other countries pop up. Or maybe you've got to kick things into gear yourself?

Of course we also have cities that need don't have enough water as is, in which case water farming might be a solution.

What I find most interesting out of this is obviously urban farming. I like to do a bit of it myself, and seeing a lot of the blank spaces turned into mini veggie gardens makes a lot of sense. Who needs a fucking lawn anyway? Improve the environment and eat tastier things almost straight out of the ground! Seriously. Fresh fruits and veggies taste better when you've grown them yourself.

Warning, some of this might be old news. Readers are advised to do some digging on their own to maximize accuracy.

Massive Post in Which Webcomics Lay

The Love Eaters
A short tale of timeless monsters and a snake.

Border Crossing
About culture and alternate realities. I have little to no idea what's going on so far, but I like it. I think.

Nathan Sorry
A man who should have died at the 9/11 attack starts over with his dead colleagues fake money laundering identity. Good stuff.

Magpie Luck
Something nice about a time traveler. It reminds me of the Little Match Girl for some reason.

Mister Crimson
Is the personal favorite out of these. Awesome art, and a nice pulp feel to it.

Nightmare World
Assorted horror stories of varying magnitude and style.

Adventures of the Floating Elephant
Seems to be some sort of psychological drama so far. Odd things are happening though, so that'll probably change. Pretty good stuff.

The Lungs of the World
Looks sorta like a crossover between an art constellation and a comic. Highly interesting stuff.

Decayed Orbits
In where pirates and corporations battle over satellites in some manner which I'm not totally clear on.

Major Tom & Transient
Both sci-fi themed stories. Both pretty damned good.

Templar, Arizona
Awesome comic with loads of material. I've read over 100 pages by now, and I'm not out of 2007 yet. Really good stuff. A bit of cyberpunk and a bad future.

There, that should keep you occupied for a while. Enjoy!

Moving Around

On the move again. The weather seems to have anticipated my departure and throws on a show complete with curtains of falling water. I like the rain though, so I don’t mind. In fact I’m one of those deeply disturbed people you can see walking around in the rain with a big smile on their faces. That’s how much I like it. It’s better out of the city though. The sky isn’t just a gray blur. It’s got texture, and at least shades of gray.
Right now I’m stuck in the buss terminal in Gothenburg. There’s connections here if I need them, but I’m gonna stay off-line until I get on the buss. It’s nice to be unplugged for once. It’s just you and the world as perceived by your own senses. It’s more intimate somehow. The cold stone floor beneath me reminds me that I’m a bit out of my usual habitat. The place is made out of glass, stone and metal. The metal makes up the skeleton and the glass covers it like skin. The sloped glass panes creates miniature waterfalls everywhere around me. It’s pretty relaxing. If I didn’t have to check the clock once in a while I might even fall asleep right here on the cold floor. Though something tells me that might also be because of the lack of sleep I’ve gotten lately. I did sleep about half an hour or so on the train that took me here, so that’s something. Not really enough, but it’s a start.
There’s still 25 minutes until the buss leaves. That’s a long time when you want to get going.

And now I’m sitting on the train on the way back. It’s a more luxurious train, but the air condition must be broken, cause it feels a little like the tropical heat of the Dominican Republic. As we move south-west the clouds turn darker and darker. It seems the heavy rain I left going up is here to welcome me back home. I haven’t really thought about it before, but there’s a lot of forest all throughout central Sweden. It’s just by the coasts that nature has been forced to let go. Or up north, where big trees can’t really grow big at all. The heat makes it hard to focus. Thoughts keep chasing each other trough my neurons like a electrochemical game of tag.
We’ve stopped for a while on one of the small train stations along the way. The colors go in plant green, rust brown and concrete gray. People walk past the window. I see a blond girl with torn jeans walk buy. She spits and looks ferocious. For a moment I imagine her stabbing someone with the long black umbrella she carries in her left hand. Then we leave, and she soon fades from my mind.

From a few days ago.

Original teaser

Saw this a few months ago now. Still love it. Might have posted it earlier. Don't care. Can't stop grinning like an idiot.

Links

Susan Blackmore argues for the existence of a third form of replicator. The technological ones. Considering that memetics hasn't yet been accepted as a valid theory, it might seem a little premature think of what comes after the memes, but if you as I had just read an article about humanity becoming the parts of giant computer, it'd seem more relevant.
Imagine the informational symbiosis man and machine could create.
It might look something like The Net in Ghost in the Shell. It might be completely different.
Link here

Next I give you the Red Army Factions manifesto for armed action.

And here's a whole bunch of documents regarding the RAF. Scroll down past the book and it's there.

Want to go sightseeing in Britain? Here's the less know underground locations to do so.

Ever heard of the Black Sunday Hack? Neither had I until I read this. Pretty damned interesting.
And in case you wondered what happened Tarnovsky, you might wanna read here. I'm not sure if the trial's concluded yet though, so you'll have to check that on your own.

Talking

I'm up visiting my dad for about a week.
It's good to see him, and to be exposed to a city bigger than what I'm used to. For one the number of people living in bigger cities is a mixture of strange and inspiring. I'm somewhat amazed that it's actually sustainable.
We've been walking around, gone out for a run or two, visited a National Park, played some games at a web café, or whatever it's called. It's just a big room with a counter and lots of computers really.
Other than that I managed finish Bioshock, after having started playing it a year or so ago. Then I tackled Mirrors Edge, which I've been wanting to play for months now. Love that game. Probably because I practice parkour, but still.
Something else we do is talk. Fitting really, considering the post the other day.
We sit around a table and just talk about things. Movies, politics, culture in general, drunken nights we've been trough. Anything goes.
And since I don't really sit around talking about anything interesting with friends back home, it's great to get to voice your thoughts about what personality is, if democracy really is the best way to run a country, or something a little less serious, like why I like a certain kinds of movies. Something you realize when you develop a serious interest in movies is that very few actually have movies as a hobby. It's more a casual form of entertainment for most. Which makes a me a little sad, but it also makes me able to recommend lots of good movies to people who otherwise might never have heard of them. And I love telling people about music and movies they might like. It's a form of bonding trough culture to me.
But generally, I have to say that we need to talk more amongst ourselves. I'm even thinking about starting some sort of discussion group that can just meet up at some café or something in town and just sit around talking with each other. Either chose something we've heard about recently, or maybe something someones been thinking about lately. If worst comes to worst we might just sit around chatting casually, and then you'd still have spent the day talking with some people over a sandwich and a cup of tea, so there's really nothing to lose when you think about it.

A Voice? The Voice?

So once again I'm setting here in front of my screen, while the clock turns further and further from my bedtime.
It's not that I couldn't have gone to bed hours ago. I'm not really sure why I like staying up until my working friends almost has to get up and start getting ready for work. I try to keep certain times. My alarm rings at 10 every morning for instance. But so far that only means I sleep less for the most part.
The last time I got in bed around midnight was probably when I was drunk, and that was a few months ago now. Don't really drink much. Never have really.
Anyway, I was gonna write about the Voice. Every notice how some people, when they speak they automatically takes command of the room somehow? They've got a certain voice. Or maybe it's a tone? I don't really know, but what I do know is that Hitler wouldn't have caused half the trouble he did whiteout his voice. It can be a commanding voice. It can also be an inspiring voice. It makes you feel comfortable and secure, like your father or mother talking calmly to you as you fall asleep at night.
I just watched Pontypool for the second time, so voices, words and the understanding of them is on my mind right now.
It actually forces you to think about language, which we normally take for granted. Well, unless you work with it or something obviously.
If you could chose whatever voice you wanted, which would it be? I'd like a darker voice myself. I feel it's too soft, too timid really. Then again I am a really nice guy, so a voice that intimidates people might not fit me.
No, what I would need right now is a steadier voice. Less nervous, more in control. But maybe that comes when you feel more in control? Sounds pretty logical when you think about it. Of course you can train your voice to try and remain steady at all times, but that seems dishonest to me somehow.
Considering how dependent we are on social communication, using a fake voice is really a bit like plastic surgery. Communication in general depend on honesty. Of course, that also depends on the goals you have with your communication. Some even say we have a natural ability to lie and cheat, and detects lies as well. That too seems pretty useful. At least for now. Some day we might not need it, and I think we can all agree on that being a positive development.
I'll stop ranting now. The clock just passed 5 AM/05:00 over here as well. Somewhere inside my head a female sumo wrestler is singing. Something by Wagner most likely...

Gary by Clément Soulmagnon & an American Pyscho music video by Dave Green

Gary from Gary on Vimeo.

And here's the promised music video.

Adam Bergs The Carousel

Links

Prototype robots/furniture that eat mice and insects.
This, EATR and Big Dog keeps me from sleeping at night.

Based on this I have to say someone should burn Dubai to the ground.
Sure, it might be the most modern city in the world, but it sounds like this Utopia is more of a Dystopia with a shiny surface.

The story of Sarah Palin.
Paints a pretty grim picture of her political career, not to mention the state of the Republican Party.

Exxon are being cunts. Again.
This time they get to pay for it though. Somewhere out there Greg Palast is wearing a smile.

The Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace
It's a bit old by now, but still worth a read.

Another TED-talk. And some science links.

New Scientist - A science news site. Broader Perspective - A blog that does a lot of things. Amongst others: telling you what the future will look like. TED - A video library of science and inspiration. Well, that's my description anyway. SuTree - Another video library. This one's more of a mixed bag of useful tips, guides, introductions, and so on. JSTOR - Is a digital archive for scholars. This and SuTree I'm not too familiar with despite having them in my links for ages. I'll have to change that. There's a few. I'd welcome more though. These type of sites are pretty damned useful at times.

Traveling in Time

There’s a sickness in my veins. It slowly consumes me, makes me passive and content with as little as possible. Eventually nothing will matter but simple existing. I sit on my mothers lawn with my legs crossed and let the wind flow around me. Sometimes I think it pierces me and flows trough the holes in my skin. At that very moment I feel like smoke, or maybe fog. Something that have appeared for just a moment and will soon be scattered by the wind amongst the trees. Some days I feel that that’s how solid my personality is. Always shifting and changing shape. Other days I’m the one that decides which shape is the right one, which mode I want to push onto others. Those days I am obnoxious and bold. I am the commander of those around me. Their center and hub to which they come for guidance and enlightenment. Things are as they should. I am in control, if so only of myself. Not that I imagine that I am in full control at any given time, but when you reach a certain degree the illusion of it appears.
I always turn my thoughts inwards like this when visiting my moms place. She’s moved to a little fishing community where we used to live while growing up, so it feels a little like traveling back in time whenever I come to visit. If I take a walk it unleashes a barrage of fragmented memories that take a while for me to puzzle together. It’s worth it though, because when you travel back into your own personal history you get a better understanding of time and history as a whole. Your brain starts playing “connect the dots”, which sometimes leads to interesting results. You remember that time you and your friends rode your bicycles to a farmer a bit away to buy fresh milk. We were on a mission of utmost importance, and felt like we were practically grownups already. Of course we raced back on our bikes, because mom was going to make ice cream from the cream that floats up on top of the milk.Or that time when we found a car tire and decided to roll it down the outside staircase. It was all a highly entertaining game, until someone passed by and noticed the marks the tire left on the storage it had been hitting at the bottom of the stairs. The rest of that day was spent with hot bubbly water and hard brushes trying to get the rubber off the wall and door.
One of the houses we lived in is gone now. It was small, worn out little house rented out by an angry old man. Once we had to rush home from the beach to watch Robocop on the smallest tv you ever saw, but since mom had the keys we formed a human pyramid and I climbed inside trough the little window above the door. That day we felt like we could do anything. It soon evaporated in awe of the transformation and redemption of Alex Murphy.

From last weekend, somewhere outside Varberg in Sweden.

Iran (24th of June)

More links. Like I've mentioned before (I hope) I post these to document and inform for the most part. I try to keep my own opinions to myself as much as I can, but considering how emotional a lot of the material I find is, that's pretty hard.

From the Wall Street Journal; an article about the death of an innocent student and the consequences it results in.

A video of protesters and Basij on the streets:

More reports of groups supposed to be loyal to the Ayatollah disobaying orders. In this case the Revolutionary Guard.

According to this article the clerics of Iran is discussing an alternative to the supreme leader.

Another article about strikes and shops being closed.

The by now infamous video of the death of Neda Agha Soltan:

And an article about her.

Here's another article, this one about the surveillance by the Iranian government.

And a final video, this one even more gruesome than the one of Neda:

Philip Eddol's Git Gob

Via Twitch.

Places in the World

London:

Revolution in Iran

"Garbage burned. Crowds bayed. Smoke from tear gas swirled. Hurled bricks sent phalanxes of police, some with automatic rifles, into retreat to the accompaniment of cheers. Early afternoon rumors that the rally for Moussavi had been canceled yielded to the reality of violent confrontation."
- NYTimes



Images stolen from Whitechapel.

Working Title (About Iran, and sexual frustration)

Hello you glorious bastards! Tis be I, your beloved wanker of a person manipulating small black plastic squares with symbols painted on them.
I am currently heavily intoxicated, which may or may not be a good thing. I'm leaning towards good myself, but I'm obviously biased, so fuck me.
Please? There has been thunder and rain over here, and I took a walk in a pitch black bunch of trees close to the plastic tent the party was located in, and you could have used my penis as a compass if you so wished. I would have been tremendously annoyed of course, but like I said: fuck me.
So, anyway, despite my obvious sexual frustration I am in a good mode. You see, I am might be going to bed early today! Yes, for once I won't go to bed after the sun has started to come up. Progress, you bastards!
Anyway, Iran has been on everyones minds (or should have been if you have a heart that is) lately. Sure, some might think "Fuck it", but if everyone did that it wouldn't be happening in the first place, so you are wrong. I don't care much for your excuses to not care though, so don't post them here.
Anyway, this little second Iranian revolution reminds you of all the others that has been popping up lately. In Tibet and Burma mainly. But there is a massive difference here. For one, there is government support in Iran. The police and military refuses to hurt civilians, and it's igniting factor was an election. This legitimizes the whole thing to a new degree, which means the protests are completely justified. Not only because of rightful anger at being ruled by a bunch of priest and retired revolutionaries that delude themselves in thinking people are actually content with the current situation, but also because it's so fucking obvious that their opinion has been completely disregarded and used to wipe asses with.
Even if the rumors going around is not true, it's still obvious, which makes me want to go clubbing baby rabbits to death with gigantic dildos.
That is all.

Iran - The Election Was Rigged

People are apparently starting to find boxes of ballots thrown in dumpsters all over the country.
This, in combination with the current President winning even in the oppositions own home village, as well as winning with a clear majority when the result was predicted to be quite even, seems to indicate that the election was indeed a sham.

And here's another blog updating with the latest info.

Trials Against the Church of Scientology in France

Older article.

New article.

If they are judged guilty the Church of Scientology will no longer be considered legal in France. If it happens, it'll most likely take a few years.
L. Ron Hubbard was apparently also judged guilty of fraud in '78.

A Quick Iran Update

I'm hearing rumors of the police siding with the people, and the military refusing to harm protesters...
I might have to skip sleep altogether tonight to see what happens.

Also: Links.
Here's a piece that takes you back a bit and forces you to think instead of diving into it with your emotions. I found it helpful at least.

U.S. State Department asked Twitter to move their update so that the Iranian people could use it to communicate?

An article about the police protecting both sides. Pretty even headed and whiteout taking a stand towards either side. Good journalism.

Things are getting very interesting. I need tea now.

Iran Links Update

Where I mostly post links so people can see whats going on for themselves.

Here's a few of the photos coming out from Iran. Some NSFW stuff, and it shows just how many people are demonstrating.

Some video from the news.

Another continuously updating blog with loads of information.

A video of wounded people being carried to an ambulance and driven away as the crowd chants.


A man climbing Azadi Sqaure.

A site collecting various Tweets concerning Iran.

Another video, this one showing clashes between riot police on bikes and a massive crowd.

The Twitter of a medical student inside Tehran.

Article about student killed during clashes.

More images from the protests. Some NSFW.

And finally a really good article that clarifies things from a more political standpoint.

Links for Iran

There's tons of links on Whitechapel for info, Iranians twittering, throwing up images, videos, etc.

Michael J. Totten also has a great independent news blog worth checking out.