Garbage - Version 2.0

Garbage – Special

Weekly Song

I loved this lovely love killer even before I could understand what she’s singing about. It’s interesting how a song can change in one’s mind over the course of 20 years. I was 15 when I heard this song the first time. 20 years later, I love it just as much, but not the same.

Even since back in 1998, Garbage showed that they’re not afraid to mix all sorts of spicy sounds into their rock orchestration. Paired with Shirley Manson, one of the most memorable female vocalist I can think of, it’s a recipe for success.

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Best of 2017

Best 99 Things That Happened in 2017

Inspirational, Science,

There’s a lot of negative news out here, and for good reason I’d say. The world has indeed improved since a century ago, but we as a species know we can do better. I’m happy to see that people strive in that direction by wanting to improve and shouting about those things that are obviously wrong with our civilization.

But here’s a list of good news from around the world. And all of these happened in one, single year!

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Sorrow - Arisen

Sorrow – Arisen

Weekly Song

Dark but mellow, this old school drum’n’bass creation is a master class in the clever use and mixing of vocal samples, something I’ve noticed that this artist is particularly good at.

This song also introduced me to one of my all-time favorite album covers. I’ve tried to contact Sorrow to find out who’s behind the masterpiece but no luck. Hopefully one day I’ll find out who’s behind this magnificent drawing.

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Miruna

My Wife Became a Mother in Sweden – Part 3 – Birth

Life Fragments, Parenting, ,

It was a sunny Saturday morning, just like the Saturday when we found out that we’re withbaby. We started our day just like we did every other day but, of course, it wasn’t going to be just like every other day.

In the previous part I mentioned that, according to new discoveries, the signal that triggers the birth is coming from the baby. However, I believe that the communication is bidirectional and that a sort of negotiation takes place. Mother and child communicate through a language that we cannot even guess at. And, using this language, Crina, who knew that there will be less traffic on the motorways on Saturday, had agreed with WinterKid that they will meet this day. I’m only half-joking.

So yes, on this Saturday morning, Crina’s body started to help WinterKid towards his meeting with us. We later realized that her body had been doing preparations for a few days already. That’s probably why things moved quite fast during the morning.

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Education in the New Machine Age

Education in the New Machine Age

Technology, ,

Nobody can deny that we’ve entered a new era of technological progress. The so-called Digital Revolution is but the latest in a series of intellectual milestones that started with the Industrial Revolution. However, there’s something special about this era: exponential development. Our technology advances faster than ever before.

It’s not only board game players that lose to software algorithms. It’s all of us. It’s not that we’re stupid; far from that. After all, we created the software that is right now outperforming us in an ever-increasing number of areas, eliminating jobs across all industries.

But the human brain is perfectly capable of adapting to the intellectual explosion going on. The problem is that our social structures aren’t. And there’s a very simple reason behind that…

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Recoil - Want

Recoil – Want

Weekly Song

Here are a few twisted little verses that cut and gash like rusty razor blades:

“I want to strangle the stars for all they promised me.”
“I want matches in case I have to suddenly burn.”
“I want to write my secret across your sky.”

Besides its assault on imagination, this song features one hell of a composition. It’s diverse, ruthless and in perfect rhythm and mood with the lyrics. Take a walk on the dark side together with Recoil and the best possible singer for such verses.

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Children and Apologies

Children and Apologies

Parenting,

Children do not perceive mistakes the same way we do. They are oblivious to most social norms and cultural taboos. However, children have been found to have an understanding of right and wrong from as early as 19 months old. I believe they can empathize from a much earlier age (depending on the emotional nourishment they received as infants).

The article below discusses how parents sometimes force their children to say “I’m sorry”. It’s a double mistake: first of all, the child is humiliated and secondly, the child doesn’t even understand the reason why the apology is made, hence damaging his or her understanding of the concept of being sorry.

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Argaman - Living In A Bubble

Argaman – Walk On Your Way (Day)

Weekly Song

Warning: this track may contain traces of other dimensions. It may cause (at least) the perception of temporal shifting in the auditory cortex. Can be used by professionals to test the temporal lobe of the brain.

Jokes aside, never underestimate the beauty of tampering with and distorting rhythms. When done right, it’s exactly what a song needs to shine. Let yourself soar with this playful, airy tune and its dreamy singer.

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Salma Hayek Frida

Salma Hayek and Harvey Weinstein

Society,

Weinstein’s disgusting behavior towards women triggered the famous #MeToo social media campaign. It’s all history now. There are some very good articles out there about Weinstein and other libidinous rich men. There’s also the shocking leaked audio of the predator in action.

In this eye-opening timeline, we are shown how much things have changed because of the scandal that has rocked Hollywood, the world’s #1 exporter of corrupt cultural values. Thanks to #MeToo, the protest went global. I feel like women’s rights have made an important step forward since then.

But from all the articles I read, I took a particular liking to Salma Hayek’s story about the movie “Frida”, produced by Weinstein. This vulnerable, heart-felt story made me empathize with the victims more than anything else I read or heard on the topic.

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Darude - Sandstorm

Darude – Sandstorm

3 CommentsWeekly Song

From beginning to end, this song is a sandstorm. It powers up mighty fast and, out of the blue, you’re catapulted straight into a dance frenzy. Or at least that’s probably the intention behind the unrelenting synth Gatling guns. The melody isn’t very complex, but all movements are well timed and interconnected to such a degree that this can become an addictive experience. This is the stuff that immortal songs are made of.

I can hardly believe this song is almost 20 years old. Its age, together with the sheer power carried by the sound waves definitely qualifies Sandstorm for the Blast from the Past category.

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