Welcome to the newly re-launched Ektoplazm web site! You’ve reached the personal publishing platform of Basilisk, a psychedelic trance enthusiast from Toronto, Canada. I am responsible for the concept, design, and layout of the site, as well as the content.

As a writer, I intend to cover a wide range of topics relevant to psychedelic trance fans with both formal and informal approaches. Readers are likely to pick up on a few recurring themes in my writing, as I examine the future of music distribution, the impact of technology on the tribal dance movement, and the potential of the global trance scene as a catalyst for widespread change. I also seek to assist newcomers by writing accessible guides and helpful introductory articles in order to dispel some of the mystery that can make it difficult for interest to spread. As a DJ, I will be delivering the highest quality mixes, showcasing my wide taste in music. Entries in my blog and detailed reviews will provide visitors with a unique insight into music and the scene from the perspective of a working DJ. As an activist agitating for change, I will be attempting to shake things up in the psychedelic underground, promoting free releases as a viable alternative to the all-encompassing capitalist distribution system that is currently considered the only legitimate means of releasing music. It is my intention to compile a free downloadable CD-length release that meets all of the quality standards of a commercial release in the near future; watch this space for more news on that particular project. Essentially, it is my ambition to apply my various talents toward the common good, in whatever way seems productive and worthwhile.

There’s more! Event listings will provide visitors with all the information they need to check out gatherings in their area. I have also cobbled together a regional database which may provide a way for North Americans to connect across provincial, state, and national barriers. The Ektoplazm BitTorrent Tracker is here for your downloading pleasure, with full descriptions found in the Free Music section. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but that’s a fair round-up of what’s available to you at the time of the public launch.

Right now the site is good enough to share with the world, but I am going to continue working behind the scenes to tweak the design and hammer out a few more features. In other words, there’s a lot more to come, so stay tuned! Comments and feedback are always welcome through contact form.

Welcome to the new Ektoplazm web presence!

Over the last several months a silent war has been raging between some of the big Canadian ISPs and their customers. Rogers and Shaw, two of the larger cable internet providers in the Greater Toronto Area, have begun to implement traffic shaping policies to dramatically curtail the ability for subscribers to make use of the BitTorrent protocol. This is accomplished though bandwidth throttling, which limits the amount of requests the ISP’s servers will respond to. BitTorrent users can set their own limits by imposing restrictions on maximum upload and download rates already; the issue here is that the ISPs are imposing these limits indiscriminately, restricting the ability of their subscribers to make use of BitTorrent, often to such a severe degree that it becomes useless. Maybe it’s time for Rogers and Shaw customers to take their business elsewhere?

New versions of µTorrent and Azureus have both implemented encryption in order to get around these problems, though it should be noted that the creator of BitTorrent does not condone obfuscation. I’d have to side with those who argue for encryption as a pragmatic solution to the oppressive actions of the ISPs in question. An interview with µTorrent developer Ludvig Strigeusat at Slyck may shed some more light on the subject.

I suggest all BitTorrent users upgrade to the newest beta version of µTorrent at this time, and enable encryption by opening Options, Network, and then setting the appropriate properties.