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In Memoriam: Natalie Nguyen (tipsytentacle)

Writing posts like these never get easier. I went for a long walk to get my thoughts in order but they are still a mess so forgive me if my sentences seem the same.

This morning I found out that a friend, Natalie Nguyen (@tipsytentacle) had passed away due to suicide.

Natalie and I did not know each other very well but the one thing I did know about her is that she loved to play a game called OpenTTD.

Therefore, in her name I have made a small donation to the OpenTTD project. I hope the game brings others joy like it did Natalie.

Gone but not forgotten.

Rest in peace Natalie.

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VPNs are not the solution to a policy problem

The US House of Representatives just voted to eliminate the FCC ISP privacy rules. If you are interested in a further reading about the details of said rules, this article is a good place to get started.

As Americans begin to accept this new reality, the discourse shifts to what we can do to workaround this particular issue. Yes, VPNs are a workaround at best, and a shitty one at that.

Let me explain.

Continue reading “VPNs are not the solution to a policy problem”

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First Impressions: J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only

4 Your Eyes Only album cover

J. Cole has done it again. I think this one is going to be another platinum with no features.

Favourite tracks

  • Immortal – Hard hitting track about our mortality. Favourite lines:
    Nowadays crime pays like a part time job
    And the drought got me prayin’ for a car time vibe
  • Deja Vu – That “Exchange” beat is fantastic and works really well .
  • Change – Continuing the theme of mortality and death. I love the Ari Lennox bits in the bridge.
  • 4 Your Eyez Only – A nine minute, 4 verse monster with a theme akin to 2Pac’s Letter 2 My Unborn and Words 2 My First Born. This one almost made me cry.

She’s Mine (both Pt. 1 & 2) both get a shout out as well. Deeply personal tracks about his wife and daughter.

Conclusions

If you are looking at the track list right now and comparing it to my favourite lists up there, it is basically the entire album. If you are a hip-hop head, this is probably Christmas coming early.

Yeah, I really like this album. I’m on my third listen as I type this.

2016 has been a really good year for music, damn.