S.o.t.D. - The Sun Goes Down (Hideo Kobayashi Remix) – Sven Van Hees

The Sun Goes Down (Hideo Kobayashi Remix) – Sven Van Hees (featuring Lex Empress)

Silky smooth.

S.o.t.D. - A Forest – The Cure

A Forest – The Cure

One of my favourite tracks by them. Then they became poppy and I lost interest.

S.o.t.D. - Fuel – Front 242

Fuel – Front 242

Crunchy

S.o.t.D. - Flight – Hidden Orchestra

Flight – Hidden Orchestra

Sublimely good, and likely a terribly under-appreciated act.

S.o.t.D. - Above and Beyond – PhD & The Funky Technician

Above and Beyond – PhD & The Funky Technician

Hard.

S.o.t.D. - Time Dilation – Pleiadians

Time Dilation – Pleiadians

Acidic.

S.o.t.D. - Poppin’ – Subjam

Poppin’ – Subjam

The image is freaky, but the tune is not.

Street Typography

Recorded by London, England designer Tom Williams in the early hours of the morning outside his apartment.

How much skilled work of this kind goes on in the world unnoticed, unappreciated and likely under-rewarded?

Progress

Usually I donate blood in downtown Hamilton, when one of their mobile clinics comes to the Convention Centre.

I’m working in Burlington now, so I decided to go to the permanent clinic there. Pleasantly surprised to see the whole sign in process is now entirely digitized. No more carefully shading square boxes. Quickly zoom through all the “have you had anal sex with intravenous drug users in a Zairean prison” questions. I already donate a pint in about 4 minutes, and this makes the whole process even faster.

S.o.t.D. - Kismet (ft. Riya) – Hybrid Minds

Kismet (ft. Riya) – Hybrid Minds

Riya wrote this a year ago about the guy she just got engaged to.

Time Team – The Boats That Made Britain

S.ot.D. - No Green Job – Sinob Satosi

No Green Job – Sinob Satosi

Groover.

Measurements

Got measured today.
203 cm (80") height
91 cm (36") inseam
198 cm (78") armspan
61 cm (24") head
43 cm (17") neck
117 cm (46") chest
35.5 cm  (14") biceps
30.5 cm (12") forearms
91.5 cm (36") waist
96.5 cm (38") hips
66 cm (26") thighs
43 cm (17") calves

S.o.t.D. - Terminal – S.A.M.

Terminal – S.A.M.

I featured a track by this artist a week ago and jokingly said S.A.M. could mean  lot of things. Turns out it’s a Danish producer called Samuel André Madsen.

S.o.t.D. - B. Rown – Janeret

Rown – Janeret

Deep house.

S.o.t.D. - Where You Are (Sit Remix) – Brian Harden

Where You Are (Sit Remix) – Brian Harden

S.ot.D. - Stronger (Ft. Danni Wells) – Braxton

Stronger (Ft. Danni Wells) – Braxton

Every once in a while you randomly click on a tune and discover gold. This is definitely golden.

S.o.t.D. - Faster Than Light – Lead Into Gold

Faster Than Light – Lead Into Gold

Side project of Paul Barker, at the time the other half of Ministry. Liked it, didn’t love it though.

S.o.t.D. – Pattycake – Self

Pattycake – Self

Have to thank Roxann for introducing me to this incredibly fun track. 

The terrific LP this is from, Gizmodgery, with the exception of “9 Lives,” was recorded entirely with children’s toy instruments. And the artist behind it, Matt Mahaffey, is an immensely talented guy.

S.o.t.D. - War Pigs (Live in Paris 1970) – Black Sabbath

War Pigs (Live in Paris 1970) – Black Sabbath

I imagine this was a pretty radical sound for the time.

S.o.t.D. - Affected – Vacant

Affected – Vacant

Love this genre so much. Mellow, but with a catchy beat. Perfect.

Samuel Harris

Went to a company in Mississauga yesterday called Samuel Harris. Wholesaler specializing in marine and automobile upholstery. Never heard of them before, and no web presence whatsoever.

I was in awe.

Fabrigasmic.

Leonard Lee

S.o.t.D. - Descend To Ascend – S.A.M.

Descend To Ascend – S.A.M.

S.A.M. could stand for any number of things, but I’m quite certain this is a smooth track.

S.o.t.D. - Vertiphon – Bola

Vertiphon – Bola

It’s official. I’m a big fan.

S.o.t.D. - Halyloola – Bola

Halyloola – Bola

Loving Bola.

S.o.t.D. - United – Throbbing Gristle

United – Throbbing Gristle

Among the first things I ever heard from this seminal group.

S.o.t.D. - I Need To Know – F3edo

I Need To Know – F3edo

Reminiscent of the sort of great stuff Synkro does.

Bibliophilia: Monster Motors by Lynch, Roche & O’Grady

Monster Motors by Brian Lynch, Mick Roche & Leonard O’Grady

How could I not like a book that packs this much campy fun into it? The Abominable Snowman, Cadillacula, Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hybrid, Minivan Helsing, Zoombies and Wheelwolf are some of the cast of ... caracters?

Victor Frankenstein moves to Transylvania, Kentucky to become the town mechanic. A wizard with a wrench, he built his assistant, Igor – Interactive Garage Operations Robot. The garage he purchased is more like a fortress, and odd things happen during the night. It turns out Cadillacula has been trapped inside and manages to escape after sucking the gas out of a bunch of vehicles. Soon he is joined by April Van Helsing and her father, Minivan, and they reluctantly team up to fight automotive evil.

S.o.t.D. - Water – Egyptrixx

Water – Egyptrixx

Producer David Psutka hails from Toronto.

S.o.t.D. - Wicked A Go Dub It – Ticklah & Rob Symeonn

Wicked A Go Dub It – Ticklah & Rob Symeonn

Off of 2001’s excellent Roots Combination.

S.o.t.D. - I Need You (F3edo Remix) – Rameses B

I Need You (F3edo Remix) – Rameses B

Stunner. The refrain in the song is “it’s time to wake up”, but this puts me on the mind of walking home at dawn.

S.o.t.D. - Vegas (GhostChant Re-edit) – Tâches

Vegas (GhostChant Re-edit) – Tâches

Yesterday’s track used some of the same vocal samples.

ERYX Frame

Just to clarify: I don’t consider this a review of the product. I have no real time carrying or using this, so all this is meant as is a photo chronicling of a piece of (by this point) historical Canadian military surplus. This was lent to me by Andrew Kent, because I expressed an interest in it. I have something of an obsession with pack frames, and this one really intrigued me when I saw it. I want to procure one of my own, replace the waist belt and shoulder straps with the offerings of Hill People Gear. The main thing I like about this pack frame is the amazing number of attachment options. In order to strap anything to it though, straps would need to have a loop sewn into one end and the running end put through it. When I get one I’ll go to the trouble to do that, but I didn’t bother for the time I had this to finger fornicate.

These were manufactured in 1998-2001 to carry items for the ERYX anti-tank missile system. And it’s also just a really versatile packboard that anything else imaginable can be mounted on and to. ERYX is being phased out in 2016. Curious whether this will be dumped on the surplus market, whether it already was years ago, or whether they’ll retain it for something else. It is adjustable for any (most – being a giant, it isn’t really sized for me of course – not with the shoulder and waist belt system that’s on it now anyway) body size as the shoulder harness and hip belt system can slide up or down in channels in the frame. They lock into place by 2 screws and a sliding bracket. 

The frame itself has the NATO Stock # 8465-21-920-2064. 
I’m not sure what the specific plastic is, but it is very strong. Measures 25½" x 14¼" x ½". It was manufactured by PAPP Plastics in Windsor, Ontario. This particular one in July 1999.

Closeup of the carry handle and how the shoulder load lifter straps attach.

Closeup of the means of adjusting the height to suit the user.

Closeup of how the bottom of the shoulder straps attaches to the frame. The last photo also shows what I meant earlier of how I would construct straps to allow lashing cargo to the frame.

Hope my fingers give a bit of a sense of how burly the frame is.

The hip belt and shouder straps. The hip belt has the NATO Stock # 8465-21-920-5649, and the shoulder harness has the NATO Stock # 8465-21-920-5637. Both were made by Pacific Safety Products.

Closeups of the top of the right and left shoulder strap and load lifter.

Closeups of the side of the shoulder straps and the load lifter straps. Again, hope my fingers give a sense of how thick they are.

A side view of the shoulder straps and waist belt.

A closeup of the waist belt. After years of using the much thinner Kifaru waist belts, this one just felt weird. And I guess I’ve also gotten used to a belt with PALS webbing. No ability to attach something, also seems weird.

A not very well centred photo of the back pad of the waist belt.

Same spot, just viewed from above, giving a glimpse of the way the waist belt is attached to the pack frame.

I’m not sure if these photos really do justice to trying to depict the quick release on the shoulder strap. (A requirement specific probably only to military usage – the ability to quickly ditch a heavy load.) Two stiffened tabs go through the black shoulder strap connector and OD sternum strap connector. It's held in place by the Velcro you can see at the top of the shoulder strap in the last picture. In between the two is a D-Ring with a bobble. Pull on it and the two are released, allowing the user to ditch the load.

The bobble. (For lack of a better term.)

Very glad to have the opportunity to check this item out. I definitely want one. If and when I get one I will make the afore mentioned modifications, build some straps to go with it, and really do a proper test of its capabilities.

Some more photos can be found here:
http://webbingbabel.blogspot.ca/2014/04/canadian-army-rucksack-cargo-pack-pack.html

S.o.t.D. - Do Me Wrong – Armeria & Karma Kid

Do Me Wrong – Armeria & Karma Kid

Sweet and chilled. Perfect summer vibe.

S.o.t.D. - The Voyage – Paul Hester

The Voyage – Paul Hester

Simple groove, but with a tension beneath it.

S.o.t.D. - Mystical Influence – Dorisburg

Mystical Influence – Dorisburg

Deep with an off kilter groove and na offbeat structure. I have to check out more of this Dorisburg.

S.o.t.D. - Goingbackeast – Domenico Rosa

Goingbackeast – Domenico Rosa

Hoodie Improvement

 New and improved Cottage 13 hoodie newly improved by replacing the boring shoelace draw string with purple paracord with button knots in the ends and the bland zipper pull replaced with lanyard knotted purple paracord. Which was then enhanced with a fish tail weave.