The world has been blacked out

I've written recently about SOPA, and there is a similar bill called PIPA that is in the works. SOPA was recently shelved, as numerous people, companies and organizations spoke out about the Draconian rules that SOPA was proposing. PIPA, however is still in the works. If either one of these acts become law, the damage to the open and free internet will be immeasurable.

The new laws will violate numerous personal rights in the name of corporations. The acts also make internet providers and websites responsible for their user's action. As well, the simple act of linking to a site that holds pirated material makes the linker guilty of piracy as well.

Several different websites have blacked out their homepage only to display a message about how SOPA and PIPA will harm the web, the internet community and innovation in general. I know I live in Canada, so I have very little influence about this, but because I live in Canada, I know that our government will soon follow whatever the US does. Not only that, but several of the websites that I use on a daily basis, including Wikipedia, Reddit, and dozens more are located in the US so they will be affected by these two bills.

Talk to anyone you can, tell your elected representative, and just stay informed. These two acts will help to take down the free and open nature of the internet so that a few companies can make more money.

Jam Session 2

Here is the second video I made of the jam session we had on New Year's. I really wished I was able to record the entire night, but there was no way my phone would have been able to record everything. I think next time we do this, I'll see if I can get an actual camera to set up.

Not Your Typical subway ride

Some kind soul captured this on a NYC subway ride. I don't know if this really was spur of the moment or planned, either way its pretty cool.

Jam Session 1

So for New Years last night, I was at a friend's house. The Friend in question is a music teacher, and alot of his friends are musicians as well. We had an 8 hour jam session going for most of the night, people would pick up instruments, play, put down the instrument, move to the next one, or others would pick up where they left off. Possibly the greatest New Years ever. Here's a clip

Angels and Airwaves "Love" review

Awhile back, Tom DeLonge of blink 182 formed a band called Angels and Airwaves. The music from the band itself was a far departure from the usual blink 182 and Box Car Racer, both bands that DeLonge belong to. The band plays music in a more grandiose and epic style and have released four albums thus far, the debut We Don't need to Whisper, the sophomore release I-Empire, and the two part Love, and Love: Part Two. Love: Part Two was released recently in the beginning of November, more notable perhaps is that Love: Part Two's release coincided with the release of the feature film Love, the directorial debut of William Eubank. Angels and Airwaves were the producers of Love. 


In a world of multi-million dollar productions that focus on effects and not much else, it is refreshing to see a movie that focuses more on story and character but can still deliver eye-popping visuals. Love was reportedly made for $500,000, and much of the sets were build in Eubank's parent's house. The storyline often jumps in ways that can confuse most, but if you like films that you need to think in order to fully understand, this is for you.

The story starts out with a civil war solider who, already surviving the destruction of his old regiment is given leave from the impending destruction of his current regiment to view an extraordinary discovery. Just what it is won't be revealed till near the end of the movie, but it is rather easy to guess. The setting then moves to the near future, where, having not been in space for 20 years, a space station is re-opened for one person, Gunner Wright's astronaut Lee Miller.   For most of the film, the only person on screen is Miller with the occasional dialogue with mission control, so the space station often becomes a secondary character itself. This is important as Miller loses contact with earth, and has to struggle to keep his sanity. The film is inter spaced with interview segments that offer insight into the need for connection, much as Miller is beginning to lose his with the world.

As Miller is cut off, he watches the world below him go dark and experiences dreams and hallucinations until finally, the discovery from the beginning of the film is revealed. Miller soon goes on an journey in a sort of homage to 2001, a trip that few will understand on the first viewing.

There are a few problems with the plot, mainly the unlimited life support, and the addition of gravity to the space station, neither of which are explained in the film. None of this, however takes away from the nature and the story of the film, exploring the need for connection and interaction.

Eubank seems to mix parts of Moon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even bits of Solaris to create an intelligent film that seems to reveal more with each repeated viewing. The soundtrack was culled from Angels and Airwaves, laying a minimalist score, keeping in the isolated nature of the film. The ambiguous nature of Love will leave many scratching their head, but the overall package will delight many. The effects are overall amazing considering that the film was shot on a limited budget.

If you're a fan of Angels and Airwaves, Moon, 20011: A Space Odyssey, and any movie the requires you to think to fully understand what is going on, check out Love.