Tootfinder

Because I constantly hear myths about the good old compact cassette here's a longer post dispelling them:
1. They can sound as good as CDs
2. They don't wear out
3. You can't use a pencil to wind them
4. You can go to specific tracks automatically
5. You don't need to carry around extra batteries
I will elaborate below:
1. Sound Quality
Many higher-end decks can record cassettes on metal tape with various Dolby noise reduction settings; especially the combination of metal tape and Dolby S will make tapes that are pretty much indistinguishable from listening to a CD.
Even normal or chrome tape with Dolby B (around since the 1970s) will give great results; likely indistinguishable from a CD when played in a car or while out and about with a personal player.
Some extremely high-end tape decks produce better than CD results in some regards (for example some Nakamichi models go to 26KHz with frequency response, while CD are inherently limited to top out at 22KHz).
It's true that the dynamic range of CDs is much better than either vinyl records or tapes. However, unless you're super into classical music there's likely not much music for which this truly matters, as 99% is mastered to use much less dynamic range than provided by any audio media format. (If you're super into classical music you probably want SACD or other high-res lossless sources anyway, not CDs.)
2. Yes, it will wear out mechanically but you will wear out mechanically before it does. Please watch VWestlife's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dgJ4hRHBiw
3. European and American pencils are too thin to engage the cassette reel cogs. (You'd need to get a Japanese pencil. People mostly used BIC pens for this purpose which have the right thickness.)
4. Most (nice) decks and personal players from the early-to-mid nineties onwards have track skip features (e.g. Sony has AMS, Automatic Music Sensor), which allow precise winding to a specific track.
Some decks even did this in the early 80s!
5. My late-90s Walkman has seventy-eight (78) hours of playback on one (1) single AA battery.
Anyway, the main reason why I like them is they're fun to use and recording them is very deliberate instead of algorithms selecting music for me. :)

Perfect timing for the March for Billionaires tomorrow, which lists Bezos as one of the good ones.
https://universeodon.com/@jaykuo/116026776153656984

Jay Kuo (@jaykuo@universeodon.com)
Attached: 1 image Jeff Bezos could have saved this paper with pocket change from his vast wealth. Instead he’s letting it die because that makes Trump happy. Coward. Enemy of democracy.

OpenAI says GPT-5.4 produces presentations with stronger, more varied aesthetics and makes more effective use of its image generation tools (Igor Bonifacic/Engadget)
https://www.engadget.com/ai/i-hope-you-like-spreadsheets-because-gpt-54-love…

I hope you like spreadsheets, because GPT-5.4 loves them
OpenAI is releasing a new model today, and like GPT-5.2 before it, GPT-5.4 is all about professional work.

Also, if you fucking hate Copilot Slop and you happen to be on a Mac, you can order the standalone version of Ofiice 20241️⃣ from the Apple Store2️⃣ for $250 instead of searching MS web site and giving their website a sale.
No subscription, yours to use until it no longer works.
https://www.apple.com/xc/product/HRWT2LL/A

Is it just me, or do others find it odd to hear journalists say that the UK 'must' take action to protect 'ex-pats' who have chosen to evade their fair share of taxation by moving to the Gulf?
I think an appropriate response would be to say to them, yes, of course you can return to blighty if you pay off all the taxes you've evaded while you've been away, but if you choose not to, you're on your own.

WATCH: Navy SEAL-turned-senator tackles 'unhinged' protester during chaotic hearing (Alex Miller/Fox News)
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/watch-navy-seal-turned-senator-tackles-unhinged-protester-during-chaotic-hearing
http://www.memeorandum.com/260305/p52#a260305p52

Five bold Super Bowl LX predictions that sound far-fetched -- until you look into the data

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-lx-bold-predictions-data-preview/

Ugh 🤦🤦🤦
Starmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at risk
When politicians start attacking the parties closest to them, instead of the ones that are far away (and to the right) is when you know for sure that they're in it not for the ideas, but just for themselv…

Starmer attacks Greens, saying vote for Labour rivals puts new workers’ rights at risk
PM also criticises business figures and opponents of changes, many of which come into force on Monday

Filing: Amazon's spending on content, including music, sports rights, and licensed and produced TV and film, rose 10% YoY to $22.4B (Todd Spangler/Variety)
https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/amazon-content-spending-2025-video-music-1236654302/…

Amazon Content Spending in 2025 Was $22.4 Billion, up 10%
Amazon's total content outlay for 2025, spanning video and music, climbed 10% to $22.4 billion.

Predicting award winners at NFL Honors, plus Seahawks-Patriots score predictions and ranking every Super Bowl

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-hon