This is something for anyone who enjoys comics, “The Song of Ice and Fire” or both. I just read the first issue of the newly started “Game of Thrones” comics and so far I like what I see. I must say if you’ve read the books or even if you watch the series, in terms of story line there’s basically nothing new in there. But still, the graphics are quite nice and this is generally a great way to visually review everything that’s happened so far.

Last weekend Demodays 2011 [aka Buenzli 20] took place in Olten Switzerland, and I was finally, luckily able to attend it. It was an awesome party, and even more awesome was meeting some of the people I had only known by nicknames till then, in person. I also had a chance to meet with the founder of one of my top 2 favourite demogroups, Satori. The weather was quite lovely, the BBQ was great and all in all it was quite a load of fun. I only wish I had taken more photos. But the few that I did take, you can find here.

There was also a good number nice productions this year. The OHP demo compo was as always very cute. In the “interactive” category, someone had come up with a type-writer, auto typing one liners from various scene websites for the duration of the party. In the PC demo category there was a lovely new demo from Satori, and interestingly enough Calodox had a prod after pretty much forever.

The Satori demo, named “Burnside Odyssey” is definitely one of the most awesome demos I’ve ever seen. It really is a work of wonder, with breath taking visuals and lovely music. Some of those colours and patterns really send me tripping. Seeing that demo on the big screen was quite fantastic. Even though unfortunately due to hardware efficiency issues the demo was running at a pretty much slow motion rate, it still was a marvel to look upon. Below you can see a video of it, but it’s best if you check out the exe here.

The one thing that I find somewhat less than fortunate, to be completely honest, is the result of the demo compo. I’m sorry to be saying this, but I find the winning demo completely and utterly dull. To me it looked like a poor remix of scenes from a few previous demos of the same group, dyed with a rather awful layer of gray on top. There were at least 2 demos in the compo that would have deserved the spot quite a bit more… but anyway, it looks to me like the events that followed have caused a bit of a drama… check for yourself here.

Much faster than I myself anticipated I would, I just finished reading the 3rd volume in the “Inheritance Cycle” by Christopher Paolini. Mind you, this is why I love eReaders… I read the 3 volumes, each between 700 to 800 page, in a matter of about 2 month while I’ve only had the time to do this kind of pleasure reading while waiting for public transit and such situations. The eReader gives you the ability to use every spare moment as such. Anyhow…

The first volume, titled Eragon, I found a tad bit boring. The story went forward a bit too slow for my liking, and it was lacking some depth. The second volume, Eldest, was more interesting. Just a bit more. The third volume, Brisingr, is most certainly the best of the 3. It’s a lot more exciting, the plot finally finds its real direction and depth, there’s much better character development and altogether it’s fun to read. The only problem is that [although the 3rd book was released September 2008] the 4th and final volume won’t be out until November this year. I have no idea why there’s been such a huge time gap between the release dates of each volume of the series. So the 3rd volume ends at a terrible cliff-hanger, and now wait till the next one happens…. =P

The Inheritance Cycle in general isn’t one of my favourites in the genre so far, to be completely honest. However, it’s still one of the better ones, and worth a read if you have the time. I guess the main issue that I don’t enjoy about it, is the lack of originality. Influence from Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and many other big names in the genre is too obvious, it pretty much slaps you in the face.

I also have to mention that the movie that was based mainly on the first volume, Eragon, doesn’t really do the books any justice. Inheritance Cycle may not be the most amazing work of literature, but it’s a 100 times better than that trash of a movie they’ve made out of it, which doesn’t even visually resemble the descriptions in the text.

Of course my general view of the series may very well change [possibly improve] depending on how the last volume will turn out. If it ends up being as “good” as has been promised, maybe it’ll find it’s place among my favourites. 😉 So I guess I’ll just have to wait till November to find out….

Meanwhile though, I just started the first volume of “The Song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin. Yes, the same series that they’re basing the TV series “Game of Thrones” upon. The same one with so far 5 [and to be in total 7] volumes, each between 900 to 1000 pages. =D Huge undertaking, but I think I’m going to thoroughly enjoy this….

Earlier tonight, I received an email from the wife of a very dear, very special friend, Jack D. Logan, informing us [his friends] that Jack has passed away. I’m still in shock. I thought he was pretty much through his health problems and well on his way to recovery… I have no idea how this happened. All I know is that I’m sad, and shocked, and cold, and….. *sob*

My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends, and everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

On a bit of a personal direction… Gosh, this thread of me losing friends has to stop. 2011 has been gloomy in this way thus far… first a childhood friend of mine passed away, almost at the same time someone I thought of as a friend turned out to be anything but, then another friend passed away and now this….. *sight*…. =(

Jack will be sorely missed. I will most of all miss the music he shared with me….

A little dedication to Jack:

Continuing tonight’s share of sorting through pictures, I’ve finally uploaded a few pictures of Aarau and around the new flat we just moved to. It’s very few for now, but I’ll add more pictures soon. Pictures from inside the flat will of course happen once I’ve actually managed to unpack, which is proving quite challenging with the amount of busy I currently am. =P Here’s the album.

So far I’m completely loving Aarau. The city has parts like Toronto and parts like Solothurn. The flat is in a high-rise building some minutes away from the more “metropole” looking center of the city, and believe it or not right in the middle of a jungle/park area. Right on the north of our building block the serious green starts, and the river is about 2 minutes away on foot. It’s a very unusual setting altogether. =)

View Larger Map

So it took a tad long for me to sort through the load of photos me and Genox took from the Swiss National Day [1st of August] fireworks. But it’s finally done, and you can check out a selection here in this album.

It was a quite a lovely day, starting with a good load of BBQ and ending with possibly the most exquisite fire works I’ve ever seen up close. And I’m not putting that lightly. We were on the top of a heal in Niederwil, so that we had a good view to all the surrounding houses and farms. It seems like the people of Switzerland make it very much their personal business [and not necessarily a government responsibility, as it is often the case in Canada for instance] to make the 1st of August celebrations as shiny as possible. Basically, every single house in the vicinity had their own fireworks, some of which were really really amazing. So imagine standing on a top of heal, in the middle of a circle of fireworks, quite a few of which put the Y2K fireworks to shame. Huge colourful glow raining on you from all directions. You try to catch everything with your eyes… and more than a few times I came very close to falling down backwards… It was completely insane and truly awesome.

Wow, SinQ’s new track just took my breath away! I’ve been listening to this non-stop since morning… check it out, and if you like it make sure to visit his FB page here for more.

Seizure by SinQ

Don’t ask me how this happened but here comes a 2nd new ASD demo in less than a month. And honestly I like this one even better than the previous. “Spin” was just released at Assembly 2011, and so not surprisingly won 1st place. =) This is certainly one of my favourites ASD demos. Download the exe here.

I am spinning out of control
Drinking my dark side on a moon patrol
Dropping an anchor on a concrete floor
The links are dragging me out of the door

Can I close my eyes and see?
Can I disappear and be?
Can I play the absentee,
In this cage I built for me?

Can I stand up where I fell?
Can I spiral in my shell?
Can I cast a binding spell,
On this winding road to hell?

I am spinning against the wall
Grabbing on corners when I feel so small
Give into impulse as I drop the ball
Breaking the habits I cannot recall

Can I close my eyes and see?
Can I disappear and be?
Can I play the absentee,
In this cage I built for me?

Can I stand up where I fell?
Can I spiral in my shell?
Can I cast a binding spell,
On this winding road to hell?

I am spinning and the world is still
Pointing the finger on the things I feel
You find me exhausted and crawling uphill
To colourful nightmares against my will

Can I close my eyes and see?
Can I disappear and be?
Can I play the absentee,
In this cage I built for me?

Can I stand up where I fell?
Can I spiral in my shell?
Can I cast a binding spell,
On this winding road to hell?

Can I burn my wings and fly?
Can I justify a lie?
Can I turn my back and cry?
Can I be there when I die?

TaaDaaaaaaaa! From ASD’s magic vault, comes out yet another work of wonder! =) Check it out and enjoy! As always I suggest you download the executable from here. Below the video you can see the lyrics to the soundtrack, which by the way I find quite brilliant.

Who would you rather kiss
on the very first date if you had to chose?
How big a bet you’d make
on your very first game if you couldn’t lose?
What would you rather wear
on the very first dance with the one you like?
And how would you really sing
on a difficult song with a broken mike?

Small decisions,
life incisions,
big in retrospect
Bracing gently,
consequently,
the butterfly effect.

Where would you rather go
on your very last June that you spent apart?
What would you leave behind
on your very last smile before you depart?
Who would you rather kiss
on your very last chance of another start?
And how would you rise again
on a difficult slope with a broken heart?

Small decisions,
life incisions
big in retrospect.
Scopeless seeding,
always feeding,
the butterfly effect.

Just finished reading “Silver Surfer: In Thy Name“. A 4 volume comic series published during 2008. Totally loved it. Really really enjoyed the cynical theme of the story, very much reminding me of today’s global politics. Totally recommended to anyone into Silver Surfer or superhero comics in general.