June 18Jun 18 comment_970427 This is a bit of an obscure one, but still significant. RIP Mickey Mann. Via the official Orbital FB page: Quote Last week we lost Mickey Mann. Mickey was a legendary sound engineer who worked with Orbital , Basement Jaxx , Aphex Twin , Moby , Rachid Taha officiel , System 7 (Steve Hillage) , Megadog, The Shamen , Drum Club, MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO (official) , Ultramarine, Curve, and many more. He also fronted his own band, Pressure of Speech, creating dark electronic music that he described as folk music. We're raising funds to give Mickey the send off he deserves. If you'd like to contribute, you can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mickey-mann We've also set up the Remembering Mickey Mann Facebook group. Please feel free to share your photos, memories and stories: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4659692514317645 Thank you to everyone who has shared their support, memories and kind words. I first head Pressure of Speech's "X-Beats" in a DJ mix, sometime in the mid 90s. At that point there was no Discogs, no P2P, and remarkably little info online. In 2002, I asked about it in the techno room on the then-new Soulseek. One of the UK denizens said "Oh, that's the sound engineer for Orbital." Some time later, I paid $25 on eBay for the 12" (a lunatic price for the time.) I was mortified to learn that the remix I liked so much was NOT on the 12". Eventually I got my hands on the Phase 1 CD an deduced that the track that moved me so much in 1995 or so was any version of X-Beats, but in fact "Elone," specifically the Pressure of Speech 12" Version. Elone got mislabeled as X-Beats on a number of compilations and bootlegs in the 90s. As much as I tend to romanticize that decade, especially compared to the oligarch-driven, AI-generated hellscape in which we now reside, I do grant that it was a right royal PITA to be into obscure electronic music in the dialup era. It is a moody, timeless classic to this very day. Times like these makes me wish my radio station was still going, so I could build a set around it. More on that later. Much later. Report
June 18Jun 18 comment_970429 Twofer (or twoFUR) today. ZeosPantera is a guy who wears a GoPro, yaps at great length and ostensibly review headphones gear. It is my understanding that he is somewhat well known on that other site. I have watched his videos on and off for years. I don't think I've ever made a product purchase based on Zeos's reviews, but his content makes good "second monitor" entertainment when I'm doing something else. Zeos is know for a few things, he's got the gift of gab (45 minute video rambling on about a DAC/amp combo), his absolutely cringe taste in anime waifu art, and his various cats that make cameos in his videos. For years he had a small gray cat named Drake that is one of the mouthiest creatures I've ever heard. His persistent, insistent meowing is the stuff of legend. I happened to be checking Xitter (not something I normally do) and saw that Zeos had posted this: Very sad. His videos won't be the same without the Chorus of Drake. I'm not sure if YT deep links work on HC. The timestamp I used includes an earful of Drake. Report
June 19Jun 19 comment_970437 RIP Robert “Bobby” Caskin Prince lll, 1945-2026. In addition to being a Vietnam war vet and lawyer, Bobby is best known as the composer of the music for Wolfenstein 3D, Doom I, Doom II, Duke Nukem 3D, and a whole shit-ton of other games. 1 Report
July 8Jul 8 comment_970731 RIP Louise Lasser, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartmanhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/arts/television/louise-lasser-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wFA.xaqL.j5dyVhLRp_GN&smid=nytcore-ios-share (Gift article) Report
July 9Jul 9 comment_970739 RIP Bonnie Tyler. One of my first artist crushes, if not the first. Report
July 11Jul 11 comment_970767 RIP to Dr. David Samost, my dad.He was a flawed but good man. Lots of baggage (maybe for both of us) from his and my mom's divorce, subsequent remarriages for both, etc. But had some sit-down's with him years ago, and got a better understanding of who he was and what he meant to me. Since then, we've had an even better relationship. I may not have seen him as often as I could/should, but always good connections when we did.He was pretty much a hermit socially, but loved his family. He would beam when they were all together at an event at his house (he didn't get out much on the last couple years). He got to meet two of his great-grandchildren, which he loved as well.Perhaps my favorite pic, surrounded by many of his grandkids and some of their significant others/spouses: Report
July 11Jul 11 comment_970768 My deepest condolences, Todd. The important bit is that he was a good man. There aren’t many, so his passing is a loss for all. Report
July 11Jul 11 comment_970769 Condolences, Todd. I'm glad you got through the baggage and love him for who he was. You're a good man. Report
July 11Jul 11 comment_970774 Condolences, Todd. The more I live, the more convinced I become that life is often complicated and rarely simple. People are often seen as one thing but that is seldom, if ever, the truth. Report
July 12Jul 12 comment_970785 May your good memories of your father be a blessing. Condolences Todd. Report
July 12Jul 12 comment_970788 My relationship with my own Father was certainly complex, but we did have some really in depth conversations in my adult life. I cherish those, because I do feel as though I started to understand him better. I'll never forget the worst times, but I've long since forgiven them. Luckily before he passed. I will never have the chance to use what I learned to do a better job at parenting, but it's quite apparent that you absolutely did! So sorry for your loss Todd. Report
July 12Jul 12 comment_970790 "Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, Dies at 71Mr. Graham died of a “brief and sudden” illness on Saturday evening, his office said".https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.xFA.JhOs.28lT6RPd5YNm&smid=url-shareAlso:Mitch McConnell mystery deepens as health questions remain unanswered https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/11/mitch-mcconnell-senator-health?CMP=share_btn_url Report
July 12Jul 12 comment_970791 You beat me to it by a few seconds gram, but one of the first things that came up for me was this:https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-nobel-prize-lindsey-graham-middle-east-b2985271.html Report
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