Matthew Ashcroft

YouTube video by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER THE FURBY ORGAN, A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MADE FROM FURBIES

Look Mum No Computer doing Eurovision is a bit insane. I wonder if he'll break out the Furby Organ
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Last night I dreamt that I bought that record Aiobahn did with Fuwamoco from Hololive on vinyl for *£185*, and woke up in a cold sweat thinking I'd actually spent that much on a record

Sandstorm, the bright orange robot with black legs and forearms, is on the left, and Blaster, the red and grey robot with a yellow tape deck door for a chest, is on the right. They now have bright white faces a la the original cartoon (or toy in Sandstorm's case), because the gunmetal originally used drove me insane.

Actually did some painting of a sort this weekend - used an AK paint marker to give Blaster and Sandstorm their ghostly pallor of yore. Even though it's a pen, it's probably the best white paint I've ever used - hard wearing and looks smooth!

He has and it’s all I’ve ever wanted from a Shockwave, so I’m very happy

Also worth mentioning the bird jetpacks are backwards compatible, which is great because I do not like the new ones at all
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Can confirm - the double joints are there, they're just really flipping hard to do!

The Transformers Legacy versions of Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, two identical robotic birds (Laserbeak is mainly red, Buzzsaw is mainly yellow) in this photo, they're using the jetpacks from the newer toys of the pair, as it turns out they clip in with no trouble. The jetpacks add some nice vents and missiles to the siege/legacy molds.

PSA for people getting Studio Series 86 Soundwave, but aren't keen on the new cassettes - the jetpacks on Buzzsaw and Laserbeak are compatible with the Siege molds, which I'm utterly delighted about
#transformers

INAPPROPRIATE USES OF THE CITY An interview

I just wrote a rather big and rambling review of Second Nature by Ultra-Red on discogs, only to learn that Dont Rhine revisited the album back in December - maybe I should've read that first!

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A leaflet for Reform UK, torn into tiny tiny pieces because I'm not a big fan

Had some post.

The most important job to do with my new phone (slapping all my Autechre and Talking Heads on it) is complete

The CD sleeve for 'Second Nature: An Electroacoustic Pastoral' by Ultra-Red. The main image is a digitally edited photo of woodland with a boombox in the bottom right. The album name is in a white bar underneath.

Today's musical acquisition was Second Nature by Ultra-Red. I think this may be an unplayed copy, which is a bit terrifying for a CD from 1999.

Fairly happy with my Android experience thus far, helped by the fact that the OnePlus is a *very* zippy phone. Not fun logging back into everything though!

According to Google's ad settings, they think I'm a homeowner in a relationship. At least(?) they got my age right

(This has apparently been in the works since last August, so I am evidently *very* out of the loop.)

I think this is the second time a band have unexpectedly come back after I picked up their CD

I picked up Delphic’s mighty Acolyte on CD in Liverpool the other day, and in a frighteningly amazing coincidence, they’re flipping reuniting!

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Had to be slightly more adult for a change and cancelled my MPG Optimus Prime in favour of the aformentioned Android. With any luck he’ll be in supply at TFN in March

The vinyl sleeve for Sly and Robbie’s ‘The Sting’ from 1986. A photo of two men, one with a pair of drumsticks in his hand facing to the side, and the other with a bass guitar in his hand facing outwards. The name of the band and album are in a yellow box at the top, and there’s a Tower Records sale sticker for $8.99 at the top.

Picked this up on Saturday.

In a terrifying turn of events, I’m moving to an Android phone. I’ve already found a pair of apps that compiles loads of Quake and Doom source ports, so I expect all to go well

Very happy Tyla won a Grammy for Push 2 Start. I hear that song most days in work and it never gets old.

The automatic artist photos feature is a bit naff though - it's autofilled a picture of Miley Cyrus... for Cyrus' dub techno monolith 'Inversion'. Hmm.

Finally saw sense and sorted out MusicBee on my PC. I am now obsessed with how customisable it is.

Sharron Davies ranting against 15 minute cities, because of course she is.

Suzanne Moore in the Telegraph saying she wants to... kill all dogs??

Julie Burchill asking "does it matter if Grok undresses us all?" in The Spectator

Graham Linehan in the midst of his now four-day-long double down on Alex Pretti's murder being justified and fine.

Calling transphobia a 'gateway drug' to the far right undersells it. It's pure accelerant. Grimly fascinating to guess what crankery becomes any famous transphobe's secondary obsession, cos they all have one: 15 minute cities are fascism! Grok noncing is cool! ICE are good! We should kill all dogs!

Good grief. I use Ozone for my mastering, and beyond that Native’s influence on digital music making can’t be overstated

At the dentist. Domino Dancing is on the radio so hopefully that’s a good omen

Bought myself a new keyboard, my first mechanical one. Certainly takes some getting used to, especially since this one omits the numpad (I never used it, so I was cool with that) but it certainly feels and sounds much nicer than the (admittedly fairly reliable) Logitech I was using.

YouTube video by Palestina Livre Black Uhuru - General Penitentiary and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

Dang, RIP Sly Dunbar. What a cracking career.
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Statement from Michael and Susan Pretti Parents of Alex Jeffrey Pretti “We are heartbroken but also very angry. Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the ‘hero’ term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed. Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

Kare 11 local news just read, in full, this statement from Michael and Susan Pretti, the parents of Alex Pretti.

"Please get the truth out about our son."

YouTube video by ManicStPreachersVEVO Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next (Official Video)

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Nigel Farage’s support for Trump is putting off potential voters A focus group this week found there is concern about the Reform UK leader’s relationship with the U.S. president.

It’s not just me then - @bethanymrd.bsky.social for Politico

www.politico.eu/article/nige...