Oh. My. Word.

Absolutely no shade (shade! Like a sundial's shade!) on Neil for posting, but you can still set your watch by the annual appearance of this, originally drawn in ~2012 by Dave Walker davewalker.com/category/dia... then shamelessly ripped off, first by Innocent drinks then by pretty much everyone else

Technocamps faces imminent defunding. They play a pivotal role in Welsh STEM education. They encourage children from all backgrounds to explore computing via workshops and teacher support. The decision needs, at least, to be scrutinised. petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24... - please sign, share.

Can't vouch for the exact week, but that was infinitesimally my dad's fault, yielding to pester power. Possibly my first 'purchase'. Sorry Feargal.

The phrase "trans activist" is goofy because like 95% of the time it's used it refers to a trans person simply existing. Media, pointing at a woman buying a coffee: behold, a trans activist. Woman: buying coffee is not activism stop being so fucking weird Media: trans activist criticizes media

Halloween party tonight, here’s my costume as a ChatGPT output

It was my honor to serve my final year on the Herbert Baxter Adams prize committee (after receiving the award in 2019)—sending big congrats to this year’s winner, @lottelydia.bsky.social for Imperial Island: An Alternative History of the British Empire www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/789140...

Bemused yet delighted to be given this opportunity. Won't you be in for a treat? (Frankly, the answer is 'probably not', but it should at least be, what's the word? ...diverting). Looking forward to, provisionally, the end of January.

The #teletext recovery computer is back online, running through a tape from (a friend of) @rhys.newydd.net. Testing video/audio capture in #OBS alongside VBI capture using vhs-teletext. No rare ads yet, though. The frame drop messages are spurious: capture doesn't seem to be adversely affected.

You squarely have Justin and Ben, in order, to blame and/or thank for me rediscovering radio presenting, and this is an expectedly excellent chat, with revelations about both (Justin's dad's associations with Cymru-psych, Ben's means of discovering Frank Sidebottom...) Thanks, both!

Precisely 912 minutes left to vote for your favourite @noiseboxradio.com Anthems, so if you fancy seeing what typifies the station, or just want to show appreciation for, ooh I don't know, some Welsh-language pop (there are 2½ choices in the list!) go to noiseboxradio.com/anthems to choose. Thanks 📻

The Laser 558 story on The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame reaches Eurosiege '85. One hell of a story this. I remember it remarkably well. www.offshoreradio.co.uk/laser4.htm

After 0.23 glorious years it's the end of the current series tonight, and I'll be sampling the finest Celtic-land choices from the 2025 @noiseboxradio.com Anthems poll, in a blatant attempt to swing the vote towards Sosej, Bîns a Chips by Rocyn. Tune in at 10pm and hear me attempt to persuade you.

If you missed it, the Sunday Sunday Themes Themes is on Mixcloud and my Patreon now. www.mixcloud.com/NoiseboxRadi... www.patreon.com/BenBaker2000

It's a repeat of Monday's penultimate show so soon you'll be free of me promoting it. The usual genuinely eclectic mix of music from Celtic parts of the world, from now till 12 on @noiseboxradio.com

"AI Free" needs to become almost like a brand, a logo, a recognisable high watermark seal of quality. Companies should be clambering over one another to attain this prestigious accreditation. Companies that have gone all-in on AI will have to bear the cost of having it removed, like asbestos.

A repeat of Monday's live show from now till 12 on @noiseboxradio.com, with most of the gaffes edited out thus making me sound quarter-competent. Now playing, the excellent @beautysleeptheband.bsky.social

I think it should be consistently pointed out that we are poisoning the entire city of Memphis, Tennessee for this.

A Borges story about a guy who gets AI to summarize all the world’s information for him, and then summarize the summary, until the AI has the whole world summarized into a single word. He sits alone at his desk, staring at the word, repeating it endlessly, certain he is experiencing everything

Yes, The Celtic Connection is live tonight, an excellent idea right up till the time a police helicopter started circling overhead. They can never take our Cadbury's Animals though, so grab some of those and tune in at 10. @noiseboxradio.com

I can't exactly pinpoint why, but when I see a photo like that these days, this scene from S4C's opening night comes to mind. "'Run egni". youtu.be/r2S-AAOaxNQ?...

If there's a better publication title than "Hepcats Combining Cool Magazine" then I have yet to see it, friends.

Your future yesterday has arrived, so grab yourself a packet of the Official Snack of The Celtic Connection (some Cadbury's Animals) and listen to a repeat of Monday's show, with @hmsmorris.com and beyond. Now till noon, @noiseboxradio.com

Just been to the shop and these personalised name pop bottles are getting ridiculous now. As if anyone knows anybody called "Ribena"!!!!

I think this very, very often...

Another day, another revelation…

There was just something about the delivery exactly 30 seconds in that rendered me helpless for another 30 seconds. And yes the chain themselves did try persuading people to call them "sex" (maybe still do), due to all those somputings they exchange I'm sure #arthouse #auteurs

Tonight we move to primetime for: super furry animals! Cadbury's animals! And Fish, which is... an animal! Join the human animals at 10pm on @noiseboxradio.com

July 1996: on placement with a Big Telco in Ipswich, I'd already learnt that to be taken seriously in what we didn't then call 'AI', you didn't let the computer look at the answers before asking the questions. 2025: hoo boy. Cheers @davidgerard.co.uk for this. Why did I bother youtu.be/UODoSqiU0I4

My earworm, on-brand as ever. At least it's chosen the right record label. (also, considering the Naughty Smoke(tm) surrounding the Furries, particularly these early days, amazing they got this done and dusted in under 1m50s. Here's efficiency for you, Gallaghers) #SFARuleOK youtu.be/d1siktyfFxY

If you've an hour spare at 8pm, would you consider giving my radio show a listen? I think its a unique, funny series full of great music but I'm struggling to connect to a larger audience despite the fact that the world is easily 0.0002% better for me saying rude words between noisy indie records. 😅

How furry research is spread

Originally signed as my four-week stand-in two summers ago, Keir's 98 consecutive shows isn't a bad tally at all is it. Delighted to return the favour. Your world gets smaller, this time next week. (and do listen to @scatterkeir.bsky.social right now on @noiseboxradio.com - "people enjoy it!")

Exactly like Rod Stewart's Glastonbury set except the backing singers will be attired differently. Find out how in 5 minutes' time, on @noiseboxradio.com !

On now and great, featuring the work of novelty record producer Martin Hannett, and the soundtrack to my Summer Of Britpop, which probably is the one you think it is in the list below, but you never know, might not be... noiseboxradio.com till 12

Diolch Suw! So _this_ is the whole story. Brace yourself again... #maythetigersneverfade

Has anyone come up with the line 'the existence of twee pop implies the existence of bwanch pop' yet? If not can you make sure they don't? Thanks.

Research articles I'd hate to actually carry out but would love to read: a meticulous analysis of the each Armistice, compared with the sketches on Week Ending

Last month I said this was but a toilet stop on a journey taking us all the way to Frank Sidebottom creepypasta. PLEASE prove me wrong, internet

Absolutely what he said. (And go on, why not appreciate the Ben and give him a follow?)

Today's Celtic Connection (on in 17 minutes, 4pm Swansea time) was a joy and privilege to put together. LGBT+ themed music, and artists, from Ireland/Scotland/Wales+ as part of Noisebox's Pride Weekend. @noiseboxradio.com - it'd be lovely to have you there.

It is really really sinking in for me the degree to which LLMs are the ultimate expression of right wing anti-intellectualism. Its proponents are literally mocking the idea that anyone would ever want to learn anything, know anything, develop any actual skill, or have a thought of their own.

We decided to go along to Blackgang Chine ten years ago to see if it retained its former majesty. I'm sure you'll agree.

Now on-demand: www.mixcloud.com/NoiseboxRadi...

At 4pm Welsh/Irish/Cornish/Scottish time: @loscampesinos.bsky.social! And 13 other bands inexplicably not on Bluesky! Music from across the Celtic parts of the world, with one track audacious enough to reduce me to unprofessional helpless giggling. @noiseboxradio.com, in 25 minutes. See you there?

Post a banger that's not in English youtu.be/fU-wH8SrFro

And now unavoidable at any time: on-demand, at www.mixcloud.com/NoiseboxRadi...