daemons

Here’s a short video from my set at the opening of the new...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:59:15 -0400

Here’s a short video from my set at the opening of the new building housing Gjoa in Oslo, featuring the wonderful Joanni Sallerina performing a traditional Inuit drum dance to a track commissioned for the opening.

So… this happened. On Wednesday I took part in the opening...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:46:00 -0400

So… this happened.

On Wednesday I took part in the opening of the new Gjøa building in Oslo at the Fram Museum. Gjøa was the ship Roald Amundsen used to traverse the Northwest Passage - the first person to do so by sea.

My part was to play some music that I’d written specially for the day and perform alongside the Deputy Mayor of Gjøahaven who would perform a traditional Inuit Drum Dance. Oh, and the King and Prime Minister were sitting just a few feet in front of us. No pressure.

It was a bizarre but brilliant experience. The new building is fantastic and if you find yourself in Oslo you have to visit the Fram Museum. The stories these two boats tell is truly amazing and represents some of human explorations finest achievements.

This all came about because of a cheeky facebook message asking the Fram museum to share my kickstarter. They placed a lot of trust in me and I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity they gave me.

The Fram Ep is coming along nicely, the mastering is almost finished and then it’s off to be pressed. It should be sent to backers mid-July with general sale two weeks after that. Exciting!

Next Time Someone Tells You That Immigrants Are Destroying Our Country, Show Them This

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:39:15 -0400

Next Time Someone Tells You That Immigrants Are Destroying Our Country, Show Them This:

This woman is really good at math. She’s even better at reason.

people like this should be leading us, not the politicians we currently have.

thefrogman: [video] [h/t: 4gifs]

Mon, 13 May 2013 03:25:50 -0400

thefrogman:

[video] [h/t: 4gifs]

well fuck this is a pretty top drawer remix. amazing tune.

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:38:34 -0400

well fuck this is a pretty top drawer remix. amazing tune.

Think NHS Privatisation doesn't affect Scotland? Wrong.

Fri, 10 May 2013 04:21:00 -0400

Lots of people seem almost ok with the pseudo-privatisation of the NHS in England and Wales by the coalition because they think we’re protected in Scotland through devolution. I’m afraid that’s not quite true.

The Barnett formula is used to calculate the block grant given to the Scottish parliament by allocating a percentage of the money spent by westminster on areas that are devolved to Scotland. If through the current reform of the NHS the Westminster government reduce spending on NHS services, preferring instead that trusts raise money through provision of private services or savings through greater competition with commercial providers, then that will lead to a reduction in the block grant and cuts in Scotland’s health budget. Also Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has stated that he wants funds diverted from the NHS to defense, moving money from a devolved issue to a reserved issue - again leading to a reduction in the block grant to Scotland.

So because of policies enacted by a government we didn’t vote for which are only designed to affect England and Wales, Scotland has less money to spend on essential services such as health and education but without the reforms that aim to to replace this funding - whether you agree with those or not. Still think the current system means we’re better together?

buzzfeed: Hello! Have a Friday morning sloth!

Fri, 10 May 2013 03:13:52 -0400

buzzfeed:

Hello!

Have a Friday morning sloth!

Idea no 16

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:49:00 -0400

ideasforindependence:

An independent Scotland should see arts and science spending as vital as health and education is to the wellbeing of it’s people and the growth of it’s economy. Arts and science are areas we can truly excel in and can serve to bring tourists to Scotland, inspire future generations and create opportunities for new business, jobs and tax.

There's Only One Question That Needs to be Answered

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:40:11 -0400

Yesterday the public got their first look at the Better Together campaigns list of 500 questions they say need to be answered before the Independence referendum in 2014. They range from the oft-asked questions about scots currency and EU membership to questions regarding the price of a 1^st class stamp in an independent Scotland.

Apparently, Better Together were then surprised when the list of 507 questions (not the 500 that would have made more sense with the 500 days to referendum and their own announcements) were ridiculed, satirised and humiliated online last night. At least most of the Unionist supporters took this in good humour.

What we need to focus on though is that while there may be some concerns about the subjects raised in the 500 questions document, most of these are only answerable once the negotiation process starts post-indy, or once the first independent Scottish Government are being elected. This whole stunt is just a way to obfuscate and distort the real debate because Better Together don’t want people to simply answer the only other question on the table. Instead they will continue to doggedly throw up questions of process, irrelevant until a decision on independence is actually made.

Of course, there is a group that can answer a lot of the questions posed in the Better Together document (and oddly it was a document, rather than a series of blog posts or webpage that could be easily shared online) yet flatly refuse to do so. Remember, the EU will only provide answers to a sitting government so the Coalition could ask for clarity on the post-indy process but won’t. They could also provide answers on many of the shared liabilities and timescales for transition, but won’t.

At the moment, there is really only one question that needs to be answered – Should Scotland be an independent country?

It really is that simple. I’m sure it’s really important to someone out there how much a first class stamp will cost in an independent Scotland, but that will be sorted in time and without the aide of a crystal ball it’s simply not possible to answer most of the questions on the Better Together list. We can answer this one though and take that positive step forward.

So should Scotland be an independent country? Everyone agrees now that it could so this is simply a matter of where our hearts and desires lie. It’s not separation but emancipation. Scotland would have control over every aspect of its society (including which currency to use incidentally) for the first time in 300 years and it’s a liberating prospect.

All the other questions are important, sure, but not now. They’ll be debated and answered as part of future elections and in negotiation with the rUK and Europe. You don’t have to ignore all that, but don’t get too sidetracked as it’s not what this debate is really about. If you want Scotland to make it’s own decisions and control the mechanisms of growing it’s own economy, then you will be ticking yes. That’s what independence is.

shake it like a polaroid picture

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:37:25 -0400

shake it like a polaroid picture

thumbcramps: hi guys! this is a comic i made for a final in my...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:13:02 -0400

thumbcramps:

hi guys! this is a comic i made for a final in my comics in literature class. we had to do a research paper on a topic we’d discussed in class and then accompany it with a comic with a relevant subject. my paper was about hyper-sexualization of women in comic books, but i decided to broaden it out here as well as personalize it and make myself the subject and discuss something i’ve been subjected to in the convention circuit and on the internet as well as thousands of other women, as well as give a cue to thought about how the comic book industry as well as the video game industry and even just media in general (all of which are male dominated) push such ridiculous pressures onto girls and women.

also, it feels kind of silly to have to add this since i hope it’s obvious, but i am very aware that there are men that don’t subscribe to this attitude, and am incredibly grateful that these issues are brought to light to people other than the ones that are subjected to it.

anyway haha i have literally been staring at this for 9 hours i don’t even know which direction is up anymore. thanks for reading!!!

Euro, Pound Sterling or Scottish Pound?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:49:16 -0400

Euro, Pound Sterling or Scottish Pound?:

In the early exchanges on the referendum, the No Campaign made some noise by claiming that Scotland would be forced to adopt the euro and that the UK Government would refuse to let Scotland, as an independent country, use the pound (sterling) as its currency. It remains one of the major questions

If you are confused by the news this week banging on about issues with an independent Scotland keeping the pound, maybe this link will help.

Update 3: We've hit the target! · Launch Daemons - Fram EP and a new experimental music label

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:39:38 -0400

Update 3: We've hit the target! · Launch Daemons - Fram EP and a new experimental music label:

Yay!

Earlier this week we managed to hit the £1200 target which means we’ll be making a record! I’m ridiculously grateful for all the support I’ve received from you all and hope you are looking forward to the record as much as I am.

The whole point of this project was to focus on a project and be able to do it properly, get it mastered and pressed correctly, and then release it as a well crafted ltd run to launch a new record label in Aberdeenshire. You’ve helped us get here and it’s an amazing feat. I can start building on this support and hopefully this can be the start of a wider spurt of creativity across the north-east. I’d love to see other creatives using kickstarter to enable them to do mad projects and I’d love to see a wee scene grow of music makers creating obscure sounds and noises, working with other mediums and ignoring the traditional routes and expectations of a rigid music scene.

Anyhoo, I’ve got a lot of work to do. I’ll contact the mastering engineer and set that process in motion (though won’t confirm until I receive all the funds) and start working on ideas for the Fram Museum commission.

You can still back the kickstarter and tell your friends about it. Any extra money we receive will go towards promoting the EP and help with future releases (which are already being looked at).Thanks again for getting us to the goal. There’s still 10 days left and I’ll keep you updated on the project as it goes along. We might have a wee party or get together around the 2nd May when the kickstarter finishes so look out for that! Otherwise I’m playing as part of the HackNMake at the University May festival on the 12th May at Elphinstone Hall.

David

That’s the new update up on the kickstarter page, check it out if you’re interested in my frothing thanks.

Still to time to get involved, you can support the project until 2nd May.

Idea no 12

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:48:31 -0400

ideasforindependence:

A clear separation of church and state set within the constitution. Scotland should be a secular, free country with no state religion which encourages our children to find their own path and experiences.

This frees education to be set by those with children’s best interests at heart and not directly influenced by religious lobbies. It would mean a fully inclusive education system with no children being left out of activities.

A stunning version of The Twilight Sad’s Alphabet by Bill...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:33:32 -0400

A stunning version of The Twilight Sad’s Alphabet by Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat. This is their side of a split with The Twilight Sad which sees them covering each others songs for Record Store Day 2013.

Make sure you visit your local independent record shop on Saturday and pick up some awesome treats. I can’t. Ours closed.

This is honestly one of the most beautiful videos I’ve...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:50:56 -0400

This is honestly one of the most beautiful videos I’ve watched for ages. New Zealand’s parliament passes legislation approving gay marriage, then spontaneously breaks into song.

Hopefully, a song that will set an example across the entire world. We’re all capable of achieving this.

If you’re following the progress of my kickstarter, you’ll know we’re creeping...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:02:17 -0400

If you’re following the progress of my kickstarter, you’ll know we’re creeping closer to our target. We still need lots of help though!

Thankfully there’s this great site called Kicktraq that helps you keep an eye on your progress. Some of the predictions are easily skewed by big pledges but it’s still pretty exciting to see.

I posted a wee update to the Fram kickstarter project including a preview of track no 2 on the EP -...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:05:39 -0400

I posted a wee update to the Fram kickstarter project including a preview of track no 2 on the EP - Race to the Pole.

Check it out and remember to share, reblog and tweet!

This is the kickstarter project for the new Daemons - Fram EP. Click the widget above to find out...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:20:00 -0400

This is the kickstarter project for the new Daemons - Fram EP. Click the widget above to find out how you can help get it made.

My new EP - Fram - is all recorded and ready to go so I thought...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:54:10 -0400

My new EP - Fram - is all recorded and ready to go so I thought I’d try and get it mastered and pressed to vinyl. In order to do this I’ve launched a kickstarter project with a whole bunch of great rewards available for people who back the project.

Check it out and if you’re interested feel free to back the project. Share it with friends too!