Tim Dowling
@timdowling.bsky.social
š¤ 2546
š„ 210
š 61
Guardian writer, sad sack. Police Dog Hogan's banjo player.
reposted by
Tim Dowling
SeƔn Moncrieff
26 days ago
On the show today: Tiktok politicians;
@henrymckean.bsky.social
on the kids coming home;
@timdowling.bsky.social
on male shapewear;
@lucymichael.bsky.social
on gardai and tasers;
@jamesproclaims.bsky.social
reviews 'The Revenge Club' 'Irish Blood' & 'Man vs Baby'; Ireland's most significant actor..
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I should probably stress that in the end EVERYTHING WENT FINE
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: my band is set to play live on the radio. What could possibly go wrong?
Rehearsals for a live broadcast at short notice reduce us to silence then swearing. This does not bode well
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/13/tim-dowling-band-play-live-radio?CMP=share_btn_url
28 days ago
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I've advanced to a new circle of customer service purgatory
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: how did I end up on a helpline for the old and befuddled?
The online banker sounds concerned, as if heās trying to keep me on the line until the ambulance arrives
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/29/tim-dowling-helpline-for-old-and-befuddled?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Simon Hattenstone
about 2 months ago
Beautiful piece by @TimAdamsWrites on the brilliant Observer journalist Rachel Cooke who could write wonderfully about anything, has died tragically young and will be hugely, hugely missed by so many people.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
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Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/rachel-cooke-a-tribute
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I went all in on jelly. As ever, gastronomy was the loser.
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...
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Jellyās back! Here are three worth making ā and three that should wobble off to the bin
The traditional treat is all over Instagram and TikTok. But does it always taste as impressive as it looks? And why is it so hard to get it to set rather than slump? Time for a deep dive ā¦
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/nov/12/my-jelly-hell-slowly-the-whole-thing-collapsed-before-me?CMP=share_btn_url
about 2 months ago
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One for the Tims
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: life on the road was so much simpler than being at home
On tour with the band there were no snapping tortoises, no dog kerfuffles and certainly no peeping scaffolders
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/nov/08/tim-dowling-life-on-the-road-was-so-much-simpler-than-being-at-home?CMP=share_btn_url
2 months ago
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I enjoyed the blue one, for what itās worth.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: I love books ā but canāt remember anything about the ones Iāve just read
In bed I lie awake, staring at the books on my nightstand, trying to remember a single salient fact about any of them
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/04/tim-dowling-i-love-books-but-cant-remember-anything-about-the-ones-ive-just-read?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
3 months ago
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So, I made a lot of puddings.
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/se...
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Steam, stodge ā and so much suet: I made 10 endangered British puddings. Are any actually worth saving?
With many classic puddings on the verge of dying out, I set out to discover which should be back on the menu. It was a journey through some of the heaviest desserts in history
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/sep/23/steam-stodge-suet-endangered-british-puddings-are-any-worth-saving?CMP=share_btn_url
4 months ago
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I wore toe shoes
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
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Ugly, mortifying ā and addictive? Tim Dowlingās week in the worldās most divisive shoes
Twenty years after they first hit the shelves, five-fingered shoes are apparently having a big fashion moment. But what is it like to wear them in public?
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/aug/13/ugly-mortifying-and-addictive-tim-dowlings-week-in-the-worlds-most-divisive-shoes?CMP=share_btn_url
5 months ago
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RIP, the old dog.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: the old dog snorted with delight ā and then she was gone | Tim Dowling
Our short stay in the country ended in heartbreak. If thereās a best way for an animal to die, I canāt say Iāve found it
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/aug/02/tim-dowling-the-old-dog-snorted-with-delight-and-then-she-was-gone?CMP=share_btn_url
5 months ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
The Guardian
6 months ago
Tim Dowling: the dog is destroying the lawn, but I need to catch her red-pawed
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Tim Dowling: the dog is destroying the lawn, but I need to catch her red-pawed
I spend all afternoon watching the dog. Then an email pings and I turn to read it. When I turn back, the dog is gone and thereās a new hole in the lawn
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jul/19/tim-dowling-dog-digging-destroying-lawn-garden?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=bsky_gu&utm_medium=&utm_source=Bluesky#Echobox=1752903202
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The short answer to the question is: yes, I'm afraid it does suit me.
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
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The fisherman aesthetic: anglercore is everywhere ā but does it suit me?
Waders you could wear to a gallery opening, vests cropped weirdly short and laden with pockets. I tried the biggest trend in fashion to find out why so many non-fishers are wearing it
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jul/08/the-fisherman-aesthetic-anglercore-is-everywhere-but-does-it-suit-me?CMP=share_btn_url
6 months ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Roy Kelly
8 months ago
As a custodian of an ancient tortoise adept at concealing himself with the least available ground cover, that elusive Pimpershell, I always identify with
@timdowling.bsky.social
ās columns about his.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: let my tortoiseās humiliating mishap be a lesson to him
A freak thunderstorm soaks the middle one on his way to our house (heās come to raid the fridge), but the real drama is the toppled tortoise
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/may/24/tim-dowling-let-my-tortoises-humiliating-mishap-be-a-lesson-to-him
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Here's this week's column, posted a bit later than usual (no idea why).
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: Help! We have no internet and I really do have work to do
Iāve got a date with one of the countryās worst-rated customer service departments. What could possibly go right?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/may/10/tim-dowling-help-we-have-no-internet-and-i-really-do-have-work-to-do?CMP=share_btn_url
8 months ago
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The world is still not ready for my joke.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: itās the last date of my bandās tour ā do I risk telling my Italian sausage joke?
There is one story Iāve prepared but never used. Is the world ready for it?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/apr/26/tim-dowling-last-date-of-my-bands-tour-do-i-risk-telling-my-italian-sausage-joke?CMP=share_btn_url
9 months ago
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I'd forgotten that when I went to interview Onion staff 23 years ago, their photographer asked to borrow my gormless, self-satisfied mug.
add a skeleton here at some point
9 months ago
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The less I say about this the better, except: there are ticket still available for Glasgow, Edinburgh and Brighton.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: Iām on tour with my band ā and my wife is ignoring my calls
After a misunderstanding over who was using the car, my wife teaches me a lesson without saying a word
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/mar/22/tim-dowling-im-on-tour-and-my-wife-is-screening-my-calls?CMP=share_btn_url
10 months ago
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Somewhere on this album is the sound of me not playing the banjo, which is now destined to become a popular live request.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
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Kate Bush and Damon Albarn among 1,000 artists on silent AI protest album
Recordings of empty studios represent impact on musicians of UKās plans to let AI train on their work without permission
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/25/kate-bush-damon-albarn-1000-artists-silent-ai-protest-album-copyright?CMP=share_btn_url
11 months ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Police Dog Hogan
11 months ago
We're among 1,000+ musicians who are jointly releasing this album of recordings of empty studios to protest the government's planned changes to copyright law, which would hand the life's work of the country's musicians to AI companies for free. Don't legalise music theft!
isthiswhatwewant.com
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Is This What We Want?
More than 1,000 musicians have come together to release Is This What You Want?, an album protesting the UK governmentās proposed changes to copyright law.
https://isthiswhatwewant.com
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I slept in a giant human dog bed, with dogs
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Will a dog bed for humans improve my life? My pets and I found out
The Snuggle Pod is big enough for a 6ft person and at least one dog. Unfortunately, I have two dogs
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/04/will-a-dog-bed-for-humans-improve-my-life-my-pets-and-i-found-out?CMP=share_btn_url
11 months ago
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For the record I would like to state that I know you're not supposed to wear them around your neck like a feed bag. But I am eerily compliant in the company of photographers.
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
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My week with a man bag: am I cool enough for winterās hottest trend?
TimothƩe Chalamet, Pharrell Williams and Jacob Elordi have no qualms about using one. But can our writer carry it off?
https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/jan/30/my-week-with-a-man-bag-am-i-cool-enough-for-winters-hottest-trend?CMP=share_btn_url
11 months ago
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Celebrating my sobriety in this the 11th week of January.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: doing dry January is a doddle these days ā but I canāt wait for it to be over
Iāve succumbed to peer group pressure and am abstaining this month. So why are friends still bringing all this booze to my house?
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/25/tim-dowling-doing-dry-january-is-a-doddle-these-days-but-i-cant-wait-for-it-to-be-over?CMP=share_btn_url
12 months ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
12 months ago
Celebrating
#SteveEarle
at 70 on
#ralphmcleancountry
tonight. Some old favourites and a couple of exclusive session tracks. Also new music from Brown Horse, Dean Owens and Police Dog Hogan plus a classic live performance from
#GarthHudson
. 8pm on BBC Radio Ulster & Sounds folks.
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Police Dog Hogan
12 months ago
Many thanks to Ralph McLean for playing the title track from our album Lightning Strike on BBC Radio Ulster last night! Listen here:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
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Ralph McLean - Country - Steve Earle at 70 - BBC Sounds
Ralph celebrates the music of Steve Earle.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00272xh
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Ryan Reads and Writes šāØ
12 months ago
I have a big ask. My 9yo son is autistic and heās been raising a betta fish he named Kevin. Yesterday He asked if he could āshare a photo of Kevin with the whole worldā. I donāt know if this will work, but a dadās gotta try. Like and share if thatās your thing. Kevin says hi! šš
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Super-rare all the animals portrait.
12 months ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
The Guardian
12 months ago
When kids set their parentsā screen time rules: āI hit my limit before I even get out of bedā
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When kids set their parentsā screen time rules: āI hit my limit before I even get out of bedā
Would six-year-old Malakhi be strict? Could the grownups give up their phones? Three writers let their children set the rules
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/18/when-kids-set-their-parents-screen-time-rules-i-hit-my-limit-before-i-even-get-out-of-bed?CMP=bsky_gu
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I interviewed
@leenanorms.bsky.social
about her new book Half-Arse Human. I thought she'd have nothing to teach me, but it turns out I've been half-arsing half-arsing all this time.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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How to be a half-arse human: āYou probably arenāt going to have clean knickers all the timeā
Is it better to fail half the time than do nothing at all? Of course! Author and poet Leena Norms explains the fine art of being slapdash and happy
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/09/how-to-be-a-half-arse-human-you-probably-arent-going-to-have-clean-knickers-all-the-time?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Tim Turner
about 1 year ago
My top 5 gigs of 2024: 1) The Long Ryders (229) 2) Police Dog Hogan (Half Moon) 3) Bruce Springsteen (Cork) 4) Sons Of Town Hall (St Pancras Old Church) 5) The Hanging Stars (Jazz Cafe)
@sidthesquid.bsky.social
@policedoghogan.bsky.social
@officialbruce.bsky.social
@thehangingstars.bsky.social
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Lettuce for everybody
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Police Dog Hogan
about 1 year ago
Here is our new video for Pull Away, celebrating 200 years of the RNLI!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgRb...
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Police Dog Hogan - Pull Away
YouTube video by Police Dog Hogan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgRbGo9XKfo
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In the time since I filed this, the dog has only got weirder looking.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: Iām worried that the new dog is turning a bit funny-looking
The only way our dog still resembles the puppy we bought is her insistence on annexing my side of the bed
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/dec/07/tim-dowling-im-worried-that-the-new-dog-is-turning-a-bit-funny-looking?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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I came here for the measured discourse. I stayed because there are no ads for shoes for people with wide feet.
about 1 year ago
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This week's column, in which I am reminded - not for the first time - that I can't act.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: my band is making a music video ā but I canāt play, or even act
Weāre recording a charity Christmas song and Iām drowning in a sea of wrong notes. Luckily, a lifeboat is at hand
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/30/tim-dowling-my-band-is-making-a-music-video-but-i-cant-play-or-even-act?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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This week's column really isn't the half of it.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: our house looks like its animal inhabitants have taken over
The behaviour of the two dogs, the cat and the tortoise isnāt making a particularly good impression on our visitors
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/23/tim-dowling-our-house-looks-like-its-animal-inhabitants-have-taken-over?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Pippa Crerar
about 1 year ago
š¢The Guardian is now officially on Bluesky
@theguardian.com
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Bridget Foreman
about 1 year ago
Scunthorpe, here we come - for Police Dog Hogan, with
@timdowling.bsky.social
!
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Andy Ecelson
about 1 year ago
Not a lot good to say about Scunny....Not actually true, I spent a lot of happy years working there. But, so looking forward to seeing the brilliant Police Dog Hogan at the Plowright Theatre, tonight. With
@timdowling.bsky.social
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This weekās column.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: itās weird to hold the lead while my dog is licking a bald manās head
I go to our usual park but the dogās friends arenāt there. Luckily, a passing delivery man gets down on all fours to play
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/16/tim-dowling-its-weird-to-hold-the-lead-while-my-dog-is-licking-a-bald-mans-head?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Tim Dowling
Press Gazette
about 1 year ago
The Guardian departs 'toxic media platform' Twitter/X
pressgazette.co.uk/news/the-gua...
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The Guardian departs 'toxic media platform' Twitter/X
The Guardian is to end posting on X/Twitter from its official accounts, editor-in-chief Katharine Viner told staff.
https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/the-guardian-departs-toxic-media-platform-twitter-x/
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Trying to make a fresh start on here by not accidentally following people who, it turns out, think I'm a dick.
about 1 year ago
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rnli.org/news-and-med...
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New Christmas single pays tribute to sacrifice of lifeboat volunteers | RNLI
https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/november/08/new-christmas-single-pays-tribute-to-sacrifice-of-lifeboat-volunteers
about 1 year ago
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This week's column
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Tim Dowling: two of my sons are home ā and have brought Covid with them
Sitting at my kitchen table, waiting to be fed and watered, enjoying the pets, no housework. I wouldnāt mind being ill myself
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/09/tim-dowling-two-of-my-sons-are-home-and-have-brought-covid-with-them?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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My dog and I went for a very slow walk
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
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Walking with breaks might use more energy, but dogs canāt stand it
Study finds that breaking up your exercise is more effective, but Tim Dowling remains to be convinced
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/oct/18/walking-with-breaks-more-energy-exercise-dogs-tim-dowling?CMP=share_btn_url
about 1 year ago
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www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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The car was the last bastion of the CD and the full-length album. Now they are no more | Tim Dowling
New cars are no longer being equipped with CD players ā who can doubt that the end of the format is nigh, asks Guardian contributor Tim Dowling
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/30/car-cd-players-end-format?CMP=share_btn_url
over 1 year ago
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We're all very tired
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
over 1 year ago
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I'm new here and this is my dog
over 1 year ago
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you reached the end!!
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