Delirious Magazine

Ambient & Minimalistic; Suprisingly good

Tom Andre Skarning — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:34:53 +0000

Eufloria is a type of game which I nearly ever play. It was the iPad Game of the Week, so I decided to buy and try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The graphics are very minimalistic with very relaxing, slow ambient music. The gameplay are likewise very basic.

In-game you take control of a fleet of seedlings on their way to colonize surrounding asteroids. Enemies will try to stop you, and you need to find the source of a mysterious illness. This is an indie game, which is also available on Steam and SOE (formerly known as PSN).

This wasn't my type of game, but it turned out it was. A strategy game worth your bucks. You can get it at the App Store. The trailer is showing below.

The Singularity Is Near, by Ray Kurzweil

Tom Andre Skarning — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:23:52 +0000

Very interesting book. I doubt 20 years ago many would foresee the smartphones we now take for granted. It is the same thing now regarding what will be common in 20 years, only with greater differences.

«Many scientists and engineers have what I call "scientist's pessimism." Often, they are so immersed in the difficulties and intricate details of a contemporary challenge that they fail to appreciate the ultimate long-term implications of their own work, and the larger field of work in which they operate. They likewise fail to account for the far more powerful tools they will have available with each new generation of technology.» -Ray Kurzweil.

This book covers many of the scientific fields from physics and mathematics to neuroscience and nanotechnology, and is a must read for any one who has an high interest in science and technology.

Where's the winter?

Tom Andre Skarning — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:09:48 +0000

I really wonder if the winter is coming at all here in southern Norway. Last year in January, we had dug "trenches" around our house. The current weather is a mixture of fall/spring, it isn't winter.

The climate is unbalanced, and I do not think this is a natural change from natures side. Natural changes tend to take its time. 10 or more years ago, winter was winter and summer was summer. The last summers have been cold and rainy. Something is really messed up.

Took this photo at Hove, Tromøy 12. January.

My 2012 predictions, and Zeitgeist 2011

Tom Andre Skarning — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:41:22 +0000

I’m going to try to predict some of what 2012 has in store. I’m not seeing this as an solemnly prediction, but writing most for the fun of it.

Technology
Speaking of technological advancements I’m thinking we will see more of augmented reality implemented in various digital devices. There are a lot of applications, games and electronics which have these capabilities. But I’m thinking augmented reality will be more frequent to see in new devices, and more people taking this technology to use. Due to the fact that many people resent 3D TV glasses, advancements in autostereoscopy is a must for selling more 3D TVs. I think we will see more advancements in this field; improved picture quality and the use of 4k or higher instead of 1080p since 3D breaks down the resolution.

Science
It would be a lot of fun and probably a little scary for the firsts tourists in space, which may happen in 2012. Maybe we will see a breakthrough in cancer research? This is shot in the dark, but the biggest flood in a hundred years may occur, somewhere in a developed country.

Politics
The chances that the fragile economy will be drastically improved is much less than it is to be drastically deteriorated. This crisis will continue throughout 2012, and be slowly improved in oncoming years. We will see more revolutions and confrontations in more of the world’s countries with totalitarian governments. The «arab awakening» will continue and spread. But may be put on hold by an possible war between Iran and the rest of the world. If Iran blocks the strait of Hormuz, the economic consequences will effect everyone. Therefore I think most of the world, even Russia and China, will look down on Iran’s government and will be willingly to take part in an operation. This possible war will unfortunately take a huge toll on innocent citizens, like any other war.

Media
Maybe we will see an Xbox 3 / 540 / 720 since the coming of Nintendo Wii U. I don’t think we will se a new stationary console from Sony’s camp, since I think there are so much unfinished business with the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network. Commercial physical media formats will soon be a thing of the past. Digital purchases and digital deliveries via the Internet will be more and more common. Movies will be rented and purchased, as well as games, music, software and other medias. Before the audio cd can be called «outdated», high quality lossless audio formats must be better and more incorporated in online stores. Maybe one last physical medium will come after the discs. Memory cards; lightweight and you could have an collection of 1000 movies on one shelf. This is more ahead in the future, but we will see more discussions on this topic and most probably a high rise in digital purchased and delivered medias.

If you want a fast highlight reel of 2011. The video below is one of my favorite end of year summaries. Google made one for 2010, and I hope they will continue for the oncoming years.

Twelve Truths of Christmas

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:24:53 +0000

So it’s that time again. Time to celebrate Jesus Christ’s day of birth. Or is it? This is a minor summary of what christmas is, and my opinion what christmas should be like.

Is it true, that Jesus Christ was born on the 25th of December? While most of us know that this statement is incorrect, we ignorantly continue to pass this wrong information from the current generation to the next. If you look at the opinions of biblical historians and date calculations from the bible. You end up with the birthdate in the late summer/fall. The exact date is not know, since the bible don’t emphasizes Jesus Christ’s birth; it however emphasizes more on the death of Jesus Christ. In prechristianized countries, they already celebrated in December. They celebrated solstice, and the coming of brighter days. In nordic countries they called it «Yule», and they put food out to the nisses. The «old» nisses were cruel creatures accordingly to the some folklore at that time. With green-glowing eyes, they spread diseases amongst the humans and farm animals, and was accused of killing farm animals. The other side of the folklore depicts the nisses as a helpful farm aid, doing many tasks while the farmers are sleeping. In the early days after the christianization of Norway, one farmer could blame a neighboring farmer for having help from nisses at the farm, there so getting help from occultisms and the devils minions. The poor accused farmer could get a harsh punishment.

These mythological creatures are one of the occultisms and paganisms that are popular in this time of year; which is condemned in the bible. Some other pagan celebrations that has influenced christmas is the festival of Saturnalia. Which was held to celebrate the agricultural god Saturn. The christmas gifts and greenery has strong inspiration from that festival. Koleda is a slavic orthodox celebration of the old new year (meaning new year of the Julian calendar). The celebration is named after the winter god Kolyada, and the goddess of sunrise Koliada, and is in honor of the god Dažbog. Christmas carols and the bonfires at St John's Eve on midsummer solstice; are influenced by the Koleda festival.

The date of the birth of Jesus’ birth was decided between 243 anno domini and 336 anno domini by the western christian church; the eastern christian church had their own date, which would later be changed accordingly to the western. It was a good idea to use that date, because of nearly all of the unchristianized countries were already celebrating paganistic and occult beliefs at that time of year. So it was easier to christianize those surrounding countries, meaning they could hold on to their current festivities.

Then there was the christmas star. By nearly all regarded as a friendly star. The three wise men were sent by Herodes to kill Jesus, these men are also known as astrologists, which is by the bible regarded as demonism. Now if you think «logical» about this story. If these three men, were to kill Jesus, they would probably seek answers of were to go in the stars. Now, if the bible condemns astrology as demonism and who would be most satisfied of the killing of Jesus? Probably Satan. He wanted to kill Jesus, so he gave an helping hand.

Now, I don’t regard Christmas as a christian holiday. It is a mixture of different religions and paganisms. One point to top this is Jesus' teachings of to be aware of materialism and all it’s «temptations». Despite that, christmas is the most materialistic season of the year. If Jesus exists, I think he would be pretty pissed at the moment.

Instead of mixing christianity in to this season, or any other religious doctrine, why not have an holiday for the humanity? A worldly human celebration.

Anyway, I’m going to wrap this up as Sheldon in tBBT would do it. Since Sir Isaac Newton was born some time this season, Merry Newtonmas!

15 Alternative Holiday Tunes

Tom Andre Skarning — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:50:48 +0000

Just wanted to share some non-traditional holiday songs. The YouTube playlist is located here.

Break the mental obstructions

Tom Andre Skarning — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:32:11 +0000

When you hit a wall, when life gets a staggering amount of bottleneck points. When people say it isn't possible, when the narrow-minded inflicts stagnation on the world. Think of this quote, that will break many mental obstructions of creativity and innovation.

«From now on we'll live in a world where man has walked on the Moon. It's not a miracle, we just decided to go.» -Jim Lovell, "Apollo 13".

An Angry Letter To The Current World Order

Tom Andre Skarning — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:58:27 +0000

Sometimes we are all frustrated, frustrated and the feeling of inability to make a change. We live in a world were politicians are like the main actors of a soap opera, too much talk, and way too little action. Sometimes I wonder if many of the worlds politicians lack the ability to make sense of the world around them. Has money and greed made their logical sense illogical? Corrupted the dreams they had when they were young? Whether a political party leans to the left or right, money is overly important either way. To make way into politics you need to have money, lots of money. To make changes you need to begin lobbying. And why isn’t lobbying illegal by the way? Isn’t a good political point, good whether you throw money at it or not?

Truth is currency. What I mean by that, is truth is a tradable object. Not that it should be, but that’s how it often is today. You can pay your way to freedom, if you have done something wrong. And sometimes you can’t get your freedom, despite you have done nothing wrong. It’s just that you don’t have any money to smear the machinery with. If you can’t pay the high rating of truth, you’re just going to jump as high as they say. Is this reality? Has it really come to this? You may say I’m paranoid, but then I’m just going to say you’re naive.

If you look through the fog, you can see an increasing trend. The trend is called authoritarianism. I’m happy to live in a state like Norway, but the feeling of authoritarianism is getting stronger. Just watch the news, see how many people are neglected by their government and are discriminated by their government. People thrown in jail, because they spoke the truth. I’m not talking about all the dictatorships in the world. But this is a scary increasing trend in western countries as well. Including humanitarian neglect to small «niche» regulations against the people. This trend may be biggest risk of decreasing human wellbeing. The withdrawal of peoples rights, the decreasing meaning of justice, and governments running over the weak, the poor and the underrepresented.

I propose that every government, needs an internal affairs department. That departments responsibility is too make sure governments sticks to their promises, decrease governmental overruns, and controls that the law is being held by the politicians. If the people need to be more controlled, then governments need it more, because of a simple fact: they got a lot of power. With a lot power, the chances to make good changes increase, and so the chances to make negative changes, increase.

Money equals freedom. The more money you have, the greater arsenal you have. That’s a fact, a sad fact.

I going to finish with a video, that in my opinion has one of the greatest lyrics ever written. Almost as good as John Lennon’s «Imagine», I may say.

Can science answer moral questions?

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:20:13 +0000

A very fascinating speech by Sam Harris at TEDTalks. I have thought of that question a lot, is there a definite definition of good vs. evil, and answers regarding questions involving morality. But have never gathered my thoughts together to a mental compendium. This is a great speech, and highly interesting!

The Rebooting Spider-Man

Tom Andre Skarning — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:16:37 +0000

The following were written several months ago.

When I heard there where going to be a Spider-Man reboot, I just thought: "What did I just read? Have I been in a coma for 20 years?" No, I really wasn't thinking that, but I think that it should be at least 20 years before making a remake of Spider-Man. The movie with Tobey Maguire, is not so old that is has terrible special effects. There are so many comic book movies being made, and more around the corner. We don't need a remake at the moment.

I would be thrilled if there was a Spider-Man movie which would take part in an expanded Spider-Man universe, in other words not Spider-Man 4, or more worse a remake of the first. What I'm thinking is, what if this is contagious? Will we soon see a remake of these movies: The Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man or even Scott Pilgrim? If that happens I think the audience will be tired of the comic book movie genre, that's what I'm afraid of. In the opposite side, expanded universes makes the audience more interested, and leaving them wanting more.

But I prefer that these movies stick faithfully to the specific comic universe. If a Superman movie suddenly tells that Superman formed a secret organization on the planet Croston in his youth, I think that would make some Superman fanboys angry. I made that up of course, but expanded universe movies need to stick with the original spirit, and not take advantage of the brand. Cooperation with the comic book creator is always a plus.

But this might be a good remake, we'll just have to see. Make your own assumptions by watching the trailer.

Minor Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Tom Andre Skarning — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:33:07 +0000

For a couple of weeks ago, I got pains in my chest after I’ve been working in the yard; with cutting down trees, driving wheelbarrows and other gardening work. I had slight trouble breathing, and the pain were tolerable. I just thought it was a broken rib, or a sprained muscle. So I toke some painkillers the next four days, and it went over. Then last friday, the same breathing problems and the pains came back. Then I realized I better go check it out at the ER.

Not my X-Ray image by the way, hehe.

Came in on friday evening, and took an x-ray image of my chest region. Turns out I had a minor pneumothorax. Came back on saturday at noon, got on a similar table to the operating table, got locally sedated. Then they "installed" a chest tube on my right chest side. Which has a box on the outside, and tube going in between my ribs, through my pleural cavity and around my lung on the back side, where the unwanted air is.

Pneumothorax is a condition, which tall and slender people have no problem getting, with no reason at all. What happens, is that air is trapped between the lung and pleural cavity, and that air puts pressure on the lung, making it harder to breathe. I had a minor case, but pneumothorax can develop into a more serious condition if left untreated.

I was locally sedated when they took the tube in me, but it was really uncomfortable. But there is really nothing to be scared of. It was quick and professional performed. I think they mentioned it was a new type of tube.

Anyway, in this time of writing, I'm at the hospital waiting to take an x-ray to see if the trapped air has resided...

Got the answer, there is still some air left. So I need to go with this box on my chest until friday, then I hope I can remove it. It isn’t so uncomfortable now, it just itches and tickles, and I feel like I’m Iron Man, lol.

Is attencion only negative?

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:52:40 +0000

It is local election time now in Norway, and every party is going to let them be heard. Everybody wants everyones attention, and who can blame them. But some politicians are arguing; "They only want some attention." (!) Isn't it election time? Attencion is nessesary in these times.

Arguments like that, makes your other more or less proffesional statements seem obscure. Arguments like that tells a story about a politician who doesn't have anything better to say in that discussion, and therefore shouldn't be in that particular discussion.

Every party wants and gets attention now, no matter how controversial or conservative the statements is. You can have another opinion, but keep your argument to the subject.

22. July, Never Again

Tom Andre Skarning — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:47:22 +0000

22. July 2011, is a day we will all remember. Even our future generations will learn about this tragedy at school. The evil things that took place, were horrible, unnecessary and extreme cowardly. Just the thought of him dressing up as police officer, and who wouldn't trust a police officer at that moment? He lures kids to him, and then coldly pulls the trigger. The man was not only an extremist right-wing christian conservative, he was also an extreme coward.

There haven’t been a lot of speeches from Prime Minister Stoltenberg that I have enjoyed before. But the speech he held, saying; "more democracy". I really got some tears in my eyes during that speech. An AUF girl said something that's really admirable. Reminds me of the saying; "he ain’t heavy, he's my brother," from the Vietnam war. She said that if one man could harbor so much hate, think of all the love we all can spread. That is a quote, which is highly respectable, when thinking about the terrible things she went through. Other heroes have risen; young people standing up to the coward, neighbors risking the life, by dragging the youth up in boats, even though they got shot at as well. People in the water said, take my buddy first, he's hurt. These are people to admire. They are truly heroes.

Generally speaking, extremists are one dangerous thing. Being violent, just because one man, or a group have opinions, is highly unrespectable. In a perfect world, every man, woman and child, should have their own opinions about religion, politics and everything else. Without being afraid of becoming victims of violence. But no matter what we want, we live in a world, were some will kill innocent people for political and religious reasons (Christianity and Islam, Political left and right wing). I do not get it, why kill innocents, why kill anyone? What good comes of that?

There will be no peace in the world, before we get rid of the feeling of being afraid for the unknown. Most people in the world I will say are good, tolerant and reasonable. But the problem is that there are always one small group of people that ruins for everyone. Evil people comes in all shapes, meaning race, religion, political views and other differences.

We are all on one earth, we are all different in some way, but we are not all evil. Evil people and organizations are in a minor. Hopefully, evilness will fade away.

It is a very sad period we are in. When Norway is attacked, every country are in danger of the actions of extremists thoughts and beliefs. There are no safe haven, it seems anymore. I remember my dad met our foreign minister Gahr Støre at the Wine Monopoly, and they had a little conversation. What country on earth is that possible in? If this change, one evil man have principally won, we won't let that happen. I will not mention his name, he doesn't deserve mentioning.

This post is dedicated to the victims, relatives, the entire norwegian people, and all global citizens. We will prevail this evil. Evilness will never be in majority. Peace and love will triumph.

22. July, Never Again.

"United and loyal until the mountains of Dovre crumble."

Epically Failed News of the World

Tom Andre Skarning — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:31:06 +0000

Isn’t the press supposed to on the publics side? And isn’t journalism much about protecting the weak and underrepresented? Or have I misunderstood something? Well, this hasn’t been a part of "News of the World"s journalism the past years. I was shocked to hear that they had tapped into the phones and spied on victims of crime and terror. Why on earth did they do it? I can’t understand it. I know that english press in general have been very unserious, childish and immature in the past. Many of the english newspapers are subjective, harassing, and are making the most ridiculous headlines, that I have ever read and seen. I think they maybe are not realizing, what is the difference between a newspaper and a gossip magazine.

Two days ago the former editor Andy Coulson was taken to custody, being bailed out some hours later. I mean that everyone is innocent before proven guilty, but if he has had something to do with it, or if he knew anything about it. He should get his proper sentence, and the other accomplices too of course.

But why is it that the english press is so gossipy, and published in an "extreme tabloid format"? I have no idea. Just the idea of wiretapping, and cracking into personal information of victims of crime and terror, is just unthinkable. And it’s unbelievable that a newspaper did it. But it is clearly that this wasn’t a professional newspaper. It was a victim based paparazzi magazine. I read that News International, had registered a new domain, probably to a new sunday paper. My advice to them is, don’t think that you can conserve the work ethics of the "News of the World". Why don’t make english journalism world class again, and show that there really are some decency in the british press.

Hove Festival 2011 Aftermath

Tom Andre Skarning — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:02:50 +0000

So the festival is over yet again, ending as fast as it began. It’s always a little sad when it ends, but also it’s also good to return the regular daily life. Running around at hove, drinking a lot of beer, and smoking until your lungs exhausts oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, really tears your body apart. But it is one of the many milestones in the summer. Compared to the winter, which has no milestones. Despite the lack of a really blockbusting line-up, this year’s festival goes into the history as one of the best festivals. It’s weird, that despite this year’s line-up, it has never been so many attending. The first three years, where the best, when it comes to big names and bands, but overall the last two years where the best. The festival has improved in so many ways. And more importantly, it is a real festival. In the "country" and surrounded by woods and water. Not within the sights of tarmac, big mural buildings and exhaust. I would never get the same festival feeling, in the center of a city, or a stadium for that matter.

It started with the Vaccines, followed by 30 Seconds To Mars. I missed Linkin Park, because of a bad prepared pizza, and Chase & Status as well. That was so disappointing. Other shows that is on my top list is; the Strokes, Robyn, Magnetic Man, Architects, Tinie Tempah, and last but not least, Brandon Flowers and Bright Eyes. During the last songs of Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst announces that Brandon Flowers will guest sing on "Four Winds". And That was awesome, that can only happen in a festival. I was a little disappointed of the last day, I mean, that they should save the best for last. Who would stay in the camp, because they were tired, if Linkin Park where playing?

The weather was disappointing, last year there were shining sun the whole week. Now, it started with sun and ended with sun, with clouds and a little rain in between. But I am looking forward to next year’s festival. Hoping for a more breathtaking line-up, but remember, that is not the most important thing.

Be sure to check out my videos from Hove 2011, I got 41 videos waiting for you at YouTube, from all four days, and photos at Flickr.

Audible Philter Mixture

Tom Andre Skarning — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:12:22 +0000

I'm not much of an electronica fan, and that goes to dance, techno and trance. But some times, someone comes to satisfy my rocked & rolled ears. In my childhood I used to listen to Scooter, and a lot of other dance genres. It wasn't before high school i began to love rock. And since then, only a few electronica artists have been "allowed" on my iPod; The Prodigy, Pendulum and other "harder" electronica genres. Pendulum for example mixes alot of rock in their drums and basses.

Soft trance like Cascada and Basshunter have never moved my musical heart. But here comes Philter from Bergen, never heard of him, until it was announced he was coming to The Hove Festival. So I started WiMP to hear a song from him, and it ended with me buying his debut album "The Beautiful Lies". It was like his songs really were philters in audible mixture.

I rarely use the word "beautiful" when I talk about music, but when I do, I mean it, this is beautiful, with a capital "B". You can listen to this album, and really relax. Yes, even in our modern world, between the facebook "popping" and the MSN "nudges", you get to relax and enjoy the music.

Recommended songs: Revolver, Blue Eyes, Haunting & 8-Bit Smiles.
Listen to this album in WiMP!

My Top 5 Hove Festival Bands

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:55:37 +0000

Despite the fact that Hove Festival has the thinnest lineup ever, in my opinion, making a "Top 5 List" is still incredibly hard. Since this is the festival's 5 year anniversary (and my 4th time going, btw), the lineup should be breathtaking...

So, these are the bands that I’m looking most forward to experience live.

Number 5: Brandon Flowers (Wednesday).

"The Killers"-vocalist Brandon Flowers continued with his music career, while the other "killers", were taking a break. His first solo album was an enjoyment, it is clearly that he has had much to say about The Killers’ songs and lyrics.

Songs to "hear" after: Crossfire, Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts & Hard Enough.

Number 4: Kasabian (Wednesday).

First time I heard Kasabian was at the ending credits of the movie "Doomsday", and then I became hooked. They have "spacy" and disturbing themes in almost every song. They define almost their own genre, like "Kasabian Rock", since they are different from other "Space Rock" bands. They are like the "Alien" version of "Angels and Airwaves".

Songs to "hear" after: Club Foot, Empire, Vlad The Impaler & Underdog.

Number 3: Bright Eyes (Wednesday).

Bright Eyes is a Folk Rock band from Omaha, Nebraska, US. I'm Looking forward to relaxing in front of the Ampistage, between 1.AM and 2.AM, this wednesday.

Songs to "hear" after: Shell Games, Triple Spiral & Devil Town (The Late Great Daniel Johnston Tribute).

Number 2: The Vaccines (Tuesday).

This is a relatively new band from London, England. With their debut album "What did you expect from the Vaccines", I’m sure they will bring joy, to the Amphistage this Tuesday.

Songs to "hear" after: Nørgaard, Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra), Post Break-Up Sex & If You Wanna.

Number 1: 30 Seconds To Mars & Linkin Park (Tuesday).

I don’t think I need to write an introduction of these bands. Linkin Park are Nu-Metal veterans, which mixes metal and rap, basically. 30STM are an american rock band, whose frontman is Jared Leto, who is also an actor. The band is known for their anti-war lyrics.

Songs to "hear" after:
30 Seconds To Mars: This is War, Kings and Queens & Closer To The Edge.
Linkin Park: Numb, Papercut & Wretches And Kings.

Since 30STM and LP are playing the same day, and the difficulty of narrowing down the bands, they share my number one band. Others that need to be mentioned are: John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen, The Strokes, Philter, Jimmy Eat World, Kaizers Orchestra, Honningbarna, Architects, Big Boi (from OutKast), Jenny and Johnny, Soilwork, Chase & Status, Insense, All Time Low and These New Puritans.

I’m hoping to be positively surprised from some of the bands that I have never heard of. Like in 2009 I heard "The Gaslight Anthem" for the first time at Hove Festival, and they are now one of my favorite bands.

Also, I am recommending you to get the Hove 2011 App, from Applics AS. Then you get a map, band line-ups, news and the ability to manage the Cashless system. As I’m writing this, the iPhone version is not out yet, only the Android version. But beware of the unofficial app that costs approximately 30Kr. The official apps are free, and more streamlined.

Evolved, but some leftovers

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:07:40 +0000

Sum 41's latest album "Screaming Bloody Murder" shows that the band has evolved since their last album "Underclass Hero". Which also showed an evolution, though in not the same degree, from their earlier albums.

What I mean by leftovers, are moments when I think: "Haven't I heard this riff in an another Sum 41 song"? And that goes to the lyrics and other parts of the music, like the vocals.

One thing I noticed, there were less political messages, and more talk about feelings and love. Not, that is a bad thing, it was just something I noticed. Overall I am less satisfied with this album versus "Underclass Hero". This album contains less "hits", if you know what I mean.

But Sum 41 is still one of my favorite bands, and are tightly bound with my "youthood".

United?

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:01:55 +0000

"Sadly to say, the only realistic way humanity may be united, is when our species is on the brink of global annihilation, and over 50 percent of humanity is destroyed".

I'm usually optimistic, but realism is often more accurate. But without optimism we may not get anywhere...

Too much Aldous

Tom Andre Skarning — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:00:13 +0000

So much potential, so little humor. I had good expectations about "Get Him to the Greek", since it’s a «Sequel» to Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which was a pretty good comedy. Featuring a silly, drugged-up british rock star, with lots of good dumb humor. But there was too much Aldous Snow in this movie. The flick had some great hilarious high points, but was either stupid, or boring in between.

With so many great musical references, wrapped up in good jokes. This movie had a high potential to be a great Rock & Roll comedy. But it is set aside by the sometimes stupid, or illogical jokes. It get’s better after awhile to the end, but many times I thought of turning it off. There simply was too much off Aldous and his insanely illogical «theories», that were meant to be funny, but is only used to make it to a full length movie.

Furry walls anyone? I think I smoked a Jeffrey! Where’s a furry wall when I need it!? Epic Fail...

This period... in Music Listening

Tom Andre Skarning — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:05:10 +0000

I love music, I especially love listening to bands that I have never heard of. So following on with what happens in the music scene, is one of my ToDo's, whether it's an online website, plain ol' magazine or streaming.

This is my Top 5 Albums of this period, meaning what I'm into now and has nothing to do with release dates.

Number 5: «Angles» by the Strokes.
I’m a bit disappointed of Angles, but I have the feeling that the songs may grow on you. In other words you have to get «used» to them. Especially the light vocals and the high tone guitar riffs, that doesn’t seem to match, in an awkard way.

Favorite song: Track 1. "Machu Picchu".

Number 4: «Deep Blue» by Parkway Drive.
This is my metal album of this period, featuring load screaming vocals, and great heavy riffs. Love it.

Favorite song: Track 4. "Wreckage".

Number 3: «Hard times and Nursery times» by Social Distortion.
This old rock’n’roll band is back and is good as ever, with their punky country rock. It’s an awesome driving album, just turn up the volume and let the music guide you.

Favorite song: Track 4. "Diamond In The Rough".

Number 2: «What separates me from you» by A Day To Remember.
This is the newest album from ADTR, featuring the great mixture of pop-punk and metal core. They have done a very good job of mixing the two genres together, as they done before. The songs also vary from heavy and angry songs, to more fast party songs.

Favorite song: Track 6. "Better Off This Way".

Number 1: «What did you expect from the Vaccines» by the Vaccines.
The debut album from the english indie rock band the Vaccines is like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. It is one album which will stick with me all summer. Just like Two Door Cinema Club’s, BestCoast’s and The Drums’ albums of last year. If Coldplay and the Vampire Weekend should merge, this would probably be the result, because the Vaccines have much that resembles in both of those bands. They are also in the lineup for the Hove Festival 2011.

Favorite song: Track 6. "Nørgaard".

Sex, Drugs and a lot of blood

Tom Andre Skarning — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:40:01 +0000

Piranha isn’t a movie that should taken seriously, with that in mind, it’s an awesome movie. It’s so hilarious that the frightening parts are being laughed away.

I wouldn’t recommend it if you wanted to see a scary movie, but it’s a good sit-back-and-enjoy movie. There are some parts that are pretty bloody in detail, limbs being torn off, bodies decapitated in two, and I must admit, those scenes weren’t beautiful to watch.

So if you have no problem seeing internal organs torn to shreds by thousands of «thought to be instinct» flesh eating piranhas, then watch it!

The Norwegian Degeneration

Tom Andre Skarning — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:26:02 +0000

Are we amidst a great degeneration of farmers in Norway? For thousands of years we humans have protected our livestock from wild beasts. So what is the problem now? Why do we need to decrease the Gray Wolf population in Norway? Some say we need to look at the whole Scandinavia as one Gray Wolf territory. Why is that? So that we can use that as an excuse to decrease the already very small population in Norway, and say: «Hey, there’s hundreds of them in Scandinavia, what’s the big deal?»

The big deal is you can’t hand a problem over to our neighboring nations... especially when they don’t have a problem with this humbug, that’s just dumb.

Some say the gray wolf don’t come from Norway, but from Russia. But how many species have lived in one side of a human made border for eternity. I don’t think animals are so concerned with customs. And that argument can be used on nearly all animals in the world.

I know that the Socialistic «Communism Lite» government of Norway are very greedy, and will not give money to anybody. But some thousand years ago, some brilliant farmer thought up an idea; «How about making a protective barrier around the livestock? That’s a great idea! Let’s call this protective barrier a Fence! Problem solved.»

Now, where’s the fence in modern days, besides festivals and red carpet exhibitions? Have the norwegian farmers degenerated so much, that they forgot a so simple technological advantage? No, they haven’t. They use fences alright, fences that an 8-year old can kick over or pull up. I don’t know the odds between a Gray Wolf and an 8-Year Old in a no holds barred match, but I wouldn’t bet a smalahove on the 8-Year Old.

The problem can be solved by a very simple construction, called a «fence». When world leading engineering nations in not so many years builds skyscrapers 1000 meters tall, why can’t we norwegians build fences, around grazing lands large as «i-do-not-care-how-many» square kilometers? Money you say? Yeah, that’s probably the largest concern that's nothing to be concerned about. Especially with the politicians that governs our nation. We need to give them a kick in the ass, or a$$ (for sensitive or ironic readers) and get those fences built, and that my fellow countrymen, will be the greatest norwegian achievement since the paper clip and the cheese slicer, even bigger than our Moon Landing, take that Jens.

Hydrogen Collision (Evil shall be decimated)

Tom Andre Skarning — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:33:44 +0000

We’ve all been full of hate
We’ve all been full of disapointment
But most of that have been just

Cause when you get struck,
from a clear blue sky
By a lightning bolt of hate
Mixed with stupidity and ignorance
You know, you can’t do nothing about it
And therefore it is just

Cause people are people
And scum is scum

Like a hydrogen collision

I like to see evilness burn
Wiped from the face of the earth, to the urn
Or at least use them as fuel
Squished into oil, faded to black

And we’ll laugh out loud
screaming with no remorse

Carma is a bitch

Declining Sequel

Tom Andre Skarning — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:36:14 +0000

Right to the point, in the first half part of the game I was a little disapointed. Much due to several bugs and anoyances, but also I got this thought in my head: "What happened with everything that was so cool and hilarious in the first game?"

It was like DICE had taken nearly all humor aside, and just developed a generic first person shooter. But during the game, this gets better, I asure you. Many reviewers and editors compared the first game to the Gulf War comedy "Three Kings", and that was the factor that made the game a hit. With very cinematic cutscenes and comedy. This sequel has that factor, but not at such a degree, gradually raising that bar from the half of the game to the end. I just sat there, and though. "What? Is it over? This just got interesting!"

Now to a whole other level of perfection. The graphic visuals of the game, are breathtaking. When you stare up in the tall mountains in the chapter «Upriver», it is like a real photograph taken. Everything from trees and grass are so realistically rendered. DICE really hits the jackpot there, climbing over CoD:MW2, needless to say that CoD:MW2 was a much better game; The intense storyline that sucked you right into the game world. Like a Tom Clancy novel. And I didn't mentioned Tom Clancy just because he is a good author, but it feels like your actually in a Tom Clancy novel.

Enough about that, what BF:BC2 is missing, is giving the urge to play more in the beginning, not when the closing credits roll. The sound effects are really sharp and clear, one of the best sound designs to date, and one of the most buggiest AAA games this year.

It is very exciting when you make use of the Frostbite technology, and smolder (almost) everything to the ground. The Frostbite Physics Engine is really remarkable and most important fun, but it isn’t just there yet to destruct everything in a realistic way. But it shows how good physics in every game in the future will be.

Most bugs were just small glitches in the graphics, like colorful ripples in the sky, or walls flickering, but there were so many of them. But that is nothing compared to when your teammates won’t follow your lead, just standing there, paralyzed, but luckily I encountered that only once.

Here is one funny bug that I also encountered several times, in different situations and positions:

Conclusion:
Despite all the bugs you encounter, it’s still a good game, you just need to play a while, until the pace gets up. I warmly recommend this to every one who played the first game. But while this review is about the single player part, the strong side about this game is surprise... the multiplayer part, which I have played, nearly nothing. But the little time I have played, I have managed to get a really positive view. Looks like a hell of a multiplayer, which I will probably play a little, since I’m not so big of a multiplaying player.

So enjoy this game, you’ll not regret it, you will just get a little frustrated sometimes (At a level of piledriving the controller deep into your television screen, but that’s about it.)

Kindle for iPhone 2.3 Update

Tom Andre Skarning — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:30:11 +0000

Today the Kindle app for iPhone was updated to 2.3. And I’m very impressed with the new features. If you like to dig deeper after reading a book, like me. The new «Book Extras» are a pleasant add to the app.

The only thing that remains with this update is getting the extras out to more books.

Princess mocking in the news

Tom Andre Skarning — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:09:28 +0000

So what is the big deal about Princess Märtha Louise’ Angel School? I know many people who believe in angels, I also know many who believe in a God. Heck, I do know many who don’t believe in anything.

What my point is, one of the greatest things about the «free world» and democracy, is each individuals right to decide about themselves. How free the «free world» is and how free the freedom of speech really is can be discussed. So what is so wrong with the Princess’ Angel School?

Doesn’t the Princess have religious freedom like everyone else? Doesn’t she have the right to be an entrepreneur? Yes, she has! But the question everyone asks, is the Princess’ motive just? Are she using her title to gain more attendees, and so making more money? Well, we can ask questions as much as we can, without getting any answers.

Would the Princess get the same critics if she started a horse riding school? I don’t think so, even though she would get a hell load of attendees. So what is the difference between any other type of school, or company for that matter, and a religious/life stance center? She would get more followers whatever she would teach, sell, or produce.

The only person in Norway without religious freedom is the King himself. So as long the State Church stands (which won’t be very long I think), he must be a member. The Princess has been called a witch, and claimed to having disgraced her father Olav, the King... I really don’t think that the King has so much against it. What is so good about the norwegian royal family, is that they are down to earth, opposite of the english royal family. I know for sure, that I love my daughter unconditionally of whatever her religious views will be. If the King is against it, I’m sure he will back her up anyway.

Spiritualism and the occult are everywhere else in the society, from talk shows and music to video games. And if you try to see things from another perspective, what makes Christianity and other religions less occult, and not so spiritualistic?

I’m saying let the Princess do whatever she wants to do. There is much more important things in society to dwell at, criticize, and more important to change.

Next time the Princess and her school is mentioned in the news on TV, I’m changing the channel. I’m suggesting you do the same.