Featured | Crackerwax

January 13th, 2011

Laurie Penny’s Desire For A Socialist Hegemony

I like that title, it reminds me of some of Laurie’s blog posts. Let’s see, in no particular order here are five of my favourites.

Aren’t they great? Now me, I’m not a political beast but I do have a view on politics, I’m neither a raging socialist nor am I a massive right wing nutjob and nor am I a middle-of-the-road liberal.

I’m a man that really just wants everyone to get on and realise that the world wasn’t created for their edification and that I don’t care what they want. So it comes as a great shock to me to see people foaming at the mouth in celebration of Laurie Penny and her – what any right minded adult would think were – simplistic view of the world.

Watch this video and then we’ll have a chat about what I think.

Wow. Cool huh? After watching it i had the temerity to write in the comments section. I wrote this:

What a child. A complete lack of understanding of the world economy and of the way in which businesses – at a high level – operate. Grow up, experience life, then comment.

A little patronising maybe even condescending but nonetheless my honest opinion. Naught moments later @andyroog posted this comment:

@crackerwax Don’t be a dick. Either argue with her, or give up. Don’t resort to ‘I’ve seen the world, you’re too young’, claptrap. Just because you’re old(er) doesn’t make you any more experienced – you have to prove that.

Gosh.

Well @andyroog you’re correct being older doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more experienced. However when you come out with statements like “…seven billion as a loan to ireland and there’s plenty of money…” or “Phillip Green is a tax avoider…” as young Laurie did you’re betraying your lack of understanding or at the very least the bigger picture.

(more…)

Jon | Featured, Point Of View | 1 Comment | #

August 3rd, 2010

Do You Know SID?

A Commodore 64 yesterday.

The Commodore 64 was an outstanding machine, its abilities were pretty amazing for the time and whilst its graphical abilities were good, they were matched by other 8-bit machines of the time. Its sound though? Well that’s another story altogether.

The Commodore 64 was home to one of the most powerful sound processors of the time; the SID.

The SID, or Sound Interface Device, was the sound controller that was used in the Commodore 64, essentially it was an analogue synth on a chip and the range of sounds it could produce were streets ahead of anything else at the time.

Rob Hubbard. God.

The guys that managed to coax the sounds from this chip are legendary in retro gaming circles, the most well known proponent of the art – Rob Hubbard – is a genius. To this day he remains practically unknown, he truly deserves more recognition for the part he played in the foundation of digital music.

Even now though the SID is still used, primarily in a MIDI sound module – the SIDStation – and the sounds it makes have been very popular with the rap and R&B communities, with numerous tracks sporting SID arpeggios.

That there is the SID.

Some producers have been less than honest though. Timbaland in particular. He infamously lifted the entire melody from the Commodore 64 arrangement of an Amiga tune; Acidjazzed Evening and used it in the Nelly Furtado song Do It.

The original composer was given no credit. The whole thing sucked.

Regardless of all that the SID’s sound remains unique and is instantly recognisable to any retro gaming fan or 8-bit afficianado.

It’s good that SID music is still being listened to, and that it’s so easy to get, regardless of the rather dishonest use of those tunes by some.

If you’ve never heard the SID belt out a tune on its own – without an overpaid half wit babbling all over it – you’ve really missed a great experience. That’s why I’ve put together my top ten favourite SID tunes for you to listen to. I’m kind like that.

Sanxion – Rob Hubbard