This year's drawing to a close. As of right now, there are only 8 hours left of 2012. This is inconvenient, but also quite alright. In three days I'll be in the US, hanging out with some of my favourite people.
For something completely unrelated, I'm working on a cover/rearrangement of the song Misty Mountains Cold from The Hobbit. I posted a very rough draft on youtube, and now all that remains is a vocal track from a guest artist (which I suppose will be finished by the time I get back from Magfest). The rest of the arrangement is complete, and I can't wait to share the finished product!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Knee Deep
The past 6 months have been strange. The unthinkable happened, I suddenly found myself interested in health and fitness.
It started out innocent enough, I started paying a bit more attention to what I ate and I started following the body weight training program called Convict Conditioning. The idea was that one didn't have to pay a shitload of money to start working out, one could do alot with just basic exercises without equipment (I did buy a pull-up bar, but that's it).
The thing is, I'm an intensely driven person. Things have escalated. I still don't let a stupid diet control what I eat and drink in social situations, because that usually just makes you look like an asshole and it's unnecessary anyways. I eat and drink what I want, but I've adapted my habits slowly (recently I've been eating rather lean, the staple of my diet being chicken, cottage cheese and beans, and oats for the remaining meals). I advanced from home training to weight training in the gym back in August.
I've always considered weight training a silly thing that only people with no "real" interests do. However, after I started working out I've gotten more curious as to how far I can push my own boundaries. That's where it started (well, that and an article written by Henry Rollins about the subject, titled The Iron. You should read it, it might just give you a whole new perspective). Lifting weights is the first form of training that's given me a real feeling of progress, and of doing something "real". I love it.
I set three goals for my initial lifting period: To lift my own body weight in the "big three" exercises (squats, deadlifts, bench press) before christmas.
Today is November 18th, and I achieved the second one today. One month left, one goal left. It should suffice.
So, that's it. No IT-related content, nothing about video games, nothing about music.
Well, to make up for that, I can share the fact that I'm working on some new tracks as well. My goal is to have an album ready by summer. No more details yet though, I'll share more as it all takes shape.
It started out innocent enough, I started paying a bit more attention to what I ate and I started following the body weight training program called Convict Conditioning. The idea was that one didn't have to pay a shitload of money to start working out, one could do alot with just basic exercises without equipment (I did buy a pull-up bar, but that's it).
The thing is, I'm an intensely driven person. Things have escalated. I still don't let a stupid diet control what I eat and drink in social situations, because that usually just makes you look like an asshole and it's unnecessary anyways. I eat and drink what I want, but I've adapted my habits slowly (recently I've been eating rather lean, the staple of my diet being chicken, cottage cheese and beans, and oats for the remaining meals). I advanced from home training to weight training in the gym back in August.
I've always considered weight training a silly thing that only people with no "real" interests do. However, after I started working out I've gotten more curious as to how far I can push my own boundaries. That's where it started (well, that and an article written by Henry Rollins about the subject, titled The Iron. You should read it, it might just give you a whole new perspective). Lifting weights is the first form of training that's given me a real feeling of progress, and of doing something "real". I love it.
I set three goals for my initial lifting period: To lift my own body weight in the "big three" exercises (squats, deadlifts, bench press) before christmas.
Today is November 18th, and I achieved the second one today. One month left, one goal left. It should suffice.
So, that's it. No IT-related content, nothing about video games, nothing about music.
Well, to make up for that, I can share the fact that I'm working on some new tracks as well. My goal is to have an album ready by summer. No more details yet though, I'll share more as it all takes shape.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
The Windows Ecosystem
It's been a while. I've meant to write more here, and even started writing a couple of posts, but other things have taken priority. No matter, here's something that's been on my mind lately.
I've always been a Windows user. I grew up with computers all around me, and Windows has been the obvious choice most of the time. I don't want to be biased, but I can't help it. With that in mind, let's look at how things have progressed the last couple of years:
Apple has built a solid ecosystem of interconnectable devices, and Microsoft wants in on that. The "Microsoft family" consists of the Xbox 360, smart phones, tablets and desktop computers.
I've been using the Xbox 360 as a media center for a long time, and while I still think the UI is an abomination, I still use it because it works (and buying a Playstation 3 would be kind of a hassle).
They've been on the right track, the users had the opportunity to connect their computers to their Xbox via Windows Media Center (although I never got it to work myself, and started using a NAS instead). At least they had the right idea.
Now Windows 8 has been released, an operating system built for both desktop computers AND touch-based devices like phones and tablets. An operating system designed for touch-based devices, where support for keyboard and mouse feels like an afterthought.
Somewhere along the way, something must've gone wrong. Someone's making all the wrong decisions.
One thing that's annoyed me for quite a while is the Xbox360 interface. The latest version of it, that is. The interface is bloated with ads, to such a degree that it's actually hard to find the functions and menu points that you actually want to find. This feels like reason enough to replace the box with a Playstation or something similar.
The funny thing is how they've gone ahead and done the same thing with their Windows 8 applications! Some of the primary selling points of Windows 8 are the great new applications, such as the music player that shows you ads instead of providing quick&easy access to your own music, and a video player that apparently acts the same way.
I won't pay for a product that shoves a ton of ads in my face. Interfaces should be designed for the user, for ease of use.
What the fuck, Microsoft?
Note: I was planning to get into development for Win8/Metro, because they've always been nice to their developers and Visual Studio is an amazing IDE that I miss working in. Now that I've seen what their real focus is, however, I'll rather start making iOS apps.
I've always been a Windows user. I grew up with computers all around me, and Windows has been the obvious choice most of the time. I don't want to be biased, but I can't help it. With that in mind, let's look at how things have progressed the last couple of years:
Apple has built a solid ecosystem of interconnectable devices, and Microsoft wants in on that. The "Microsoft family" consists of the Xbox 360, smart phones, tablets and desktop computers.
I've been using the Xbox 360 as a media center for a long time, and while I still think the UI is an abomination, I still use it because it works (and buying a Playstation 3 would be kind of a hassle).
They've been on the right track, the users had the opportunity to connect their computers to their Xbox via Windows Media Center (although I never got it to work myself, and started using a NAS instead). At least they had the right idea.
Now Windows 8 has been released, an operating system built for both desktop computers AND touch-based devices like phones and tablets. An operating system designed for touch-based devices, where support for keyboard and mouse feels like an afterthought.
Somewhere along the way, something must've gone wrong. Someone's making all the wrong decisions.
One thing that's annoyed me for quite a while is the Xbox360 interface. The latest version of it, that is. The interface is bloated with ads, to such a degree that it's actually hard to find the functions and menu points that you actually want to find. This feels like reason enough to replace the box with a Playstation or something similar.
The funny thing is how they've gone ahead and done the same thing with their Windows 8 applications! Some of the primary selling points of Windows 8 are the great new applications, such as the music player that shows you ads instead of providing quick&easy access to your own music, and a video player that apparently acts the same way.
I won't pay for a product that shoves a ton of ads in my face. Interfaces should be designed for the user, for ease of use.
What the fuck, Microsoft?
Note: I was planning to get into development for Win8/Metro, because they've always been nice to their developers and Visual Studio is an amazing IDE that I miss working in. Now that I've seen what their real focus is, however, I'll rather start making iOS apps.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Still Alive
I haven't written anything here in a while now, nothing has really come to mind. There's been no work with music projects whatsoever since Maverick Rising, and I guess there haven't been any other issues that have gotten me fired up and ranting either.
Today, however, I find it strangely soothing to sit here with my cup of coffee and breakfast (a chicken breast bathed in pepper, because I can) and just write. Not necessarily about anything in particular, I just try to let the words flow again.
Since last time I wrote here I've moved to Oslo, a town I previously despised. Luckily my impression was based mostly on the central area of the city, which is in much worse shape than the rest. It's as if they want the tourists to think "god, what a terrible place Oslo is". So I'm really enjoying my new apartment, and I've just rigged up my studio again. I might try to do some recordings again soon, although my priorities have changed slightly so neither music nor video games are my primary timesinks anymore.
Maybe a muse will show up and inspire me to keep working on music again soon. If not, I'll try to kick myself into gear and complete an easy track of some sort.
Time to finish up my coffee and get to the bus.
Today, however, I find it strangely soothing to sit here with my cup of coffee and breakfast (a chicken breast bathed in pepper, because I can) and just write. Not necessarily about anything in particular, I just try to let the words flow again.
Since last time I wrote here I've moved to Oslo, a town I previously despised. Luckily my impression was based mostly on the central area of the city, which is in much worse shape than the rest. It's as if they want the tourists to think "god, what a terrible place Oslo is". So I'm really enjoying my new apartment, and I've just rigged up my studio again. I might try to do some recordings again soon, although my priorities have changed slightly so neither music nor video games are my primary timesinks anymore.
Maybe a muse will show up and inspire me to keep working on music again soon. If not, I'll try to kick myself into gear and complete an easy track of some sort.
Time to finish up my coffee and get to the bus.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Maverick Rising: A Mega Man X Project
Last year I made a track for a new project at OverClocked ReMix. The project was for the Mega Man X series of games, and I managed to claim the Flame Stag track (from X2). It's a pretty badass track already, but I gave it my best to improve it further.
The album has just been released, and might just be the hardest rocking album project to ever be released by OCR. You don't even have to care about the Mega Man games to enjoy this.
You can find the complete album on the project web site: http://maverick.ocremix.org/music.php
The album has just been released, and might just be the hardest rocking album project to ever be released by OCR. You don't even have to care about the Mega Man games to enjoy this.
You can find the complete album on the project web site: http://maverick.ocremix.org/music.php
Friday, February 24, 2012
Musical Achievement: OCRemix
It's official, I've got a mix posted on OverClocked ReMix!
The track Sephiroth's Deliverance, which I initially made back in 2009, has gone through a series of improvements, and was finalized in the summer of 2011. Now it's available right here!
Ever since I started working with music, becoming a posted mixer at OCR has been my goal. Now I've reached it, and things can only keep getting better!
The track Sephiroth's Deliverance, which I initially made back in 2009, has gone through a series of improvements, and was finalized in the summer of 2011. Now it's available right here!
Ever since I started working with music, becoming a posted mixer at OCR has been my goal. Now I've reached it, and things can only keep getting better!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Project HTFU - Week 3
Not much to share this week, unfortunately.
My third attempt at hardening the F up kind of failed, I've been out doing stuff almost all week and haven't done much in the realm of music.
I did put together something, as I promised myself, but it's kind of halfway, and I don't know where to go with it.
It's something different from what I usually do, so at least it's interesting. Check it out here.
My third attempt at hardening the F up kind of failed, I've been out doing stuff almost all week and haven't done much in the realm of music.
I did put together something, as I promised myself, but it's kind of halfway, and I don't know where to go with it.
It's something different from what I usually do, so at least it's interesting. Check it out here.
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