Ned Raggett
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nedraggett.bsky.social
Ned Raggett
@nedraggett.bsky.social
Hi! I write about music at various spots (@thequietus.com, @thewiremagazine.bsky.social, Shfl and my Patreon, also in the past @allmusic.com, @pitchfork.com, @bandcamp.com etc. etc.). Plus podcasting about #Tolkien with friends at @bythebywater.bsky.social
Pinned
Well, it's time for some honest to god Bluesky lore.

A year ago, the site was still invite only, and one morning I posted something random and didn't think much about it beyond my own amusement.

This is the story about the #ChristianSkydivingBaby and how it completely took over @bsky.app (1/x)
Given the very specific circumstances, I'd either check to see if I'm on drugs or if the baby is on drugs and if the latter find out where I could get some because clearly those are some gooooood drugs.
Definitely did not expect this! (Partial backstory: Joel and Shout! Factory-now-Radial had shared the rights for the past decade, but Joel sold his share the other month.)
February 2, 2026 at 6:17 PM
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Episode 83 is live! This time around we talk about warriors in #Tolkien and his legendarium, and how he writes about them and war in ways that don't always meet with expectations. Art by @vandroidhelsing.bsky.social as always!
83. It’s Important to Have Hobbies You Don’t Monetize. | By-The-Bywater
On warriors in Tolkien.
megaphonic.fm
February 2, 2026 at 5:33 PM
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not the first or last to say it, but we watched some 4,000 people arrested, many brutalized, on college campuses throughout 2024 as part of an anti-war movement primarily calling for their schools and government to recognize the humanity of Palestinians, seemingly now memoryholed
February 2, 2026 at 5:23 PM
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The entire minnesota delegation needs to be at Whipple by lunch.
BREAKING: Judge Jia Cobb issues a TRO blocking DHS Sec Noem's Jan 8 memo purporting to require 7-day notices by members of Congress to perform oversight visits to immigration detention facilities.

The effect is that congressional oversight visits are allowed on request, as is required by Sec. 527.
February 2, 2026 at 5:06 PM
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Sophie living her best life.
February 2, 2026 at 5:06 PM
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Hard not to read that Elon take about being able to get trafficked children without Epstein if he wanted to as a confession to why the Billionaire class is so supportive of ICE disappearing women and children.
February 2, 2026 at 5:02 PM
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Sky blue, grass green, water wet, aaaaand
February 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
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The Pitt got greenlit for a season 3, out next February, and the announcement has very funny comment from HBO chairman Casey Bloys that’s like “yeah, turns out if you just make a TV show like how we used to make TV shows you can have a 15+ episode season every year 🤷‍♂️”
February 2, 2026 at 4:41 PM
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February 2, 2026 at 4:25 PM
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An addendum to all this is that soon thereafter Scott Woods interviewed me about that wild day and immediate reactions. Digging that up from the archives… web.archive.org/web/20200807...
My Bloody Pre-Valentine: Q&A with Ned Raggett
If you missed the story last weekend about how My Bloody Valentine finally released mbv, their 22-years-in-the-works follow-up to 1991’s Loveless, via a surprise announcement on their website…
web.archive.org
February 2, 2026 at 1:14 AM
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I was deeply flattered to learn soon thereafter that Bob Mould, legendarily someone who had heard some of the first post-Loveless tracks in the mid-90s, really appreciated that review of mine. Never would have expected it!
February 2, 2026 at 1:08 AM
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One of the wildest days online I’ve ever experienced, 13 years back. My near insta-review that followed shortly thereafter: thequietus.com/quietus-revi...
February 2, 2026 at 1:06 AM
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Clearly remember sitting at the controls waiting for this to land on my hard drive.
One of the wildest days online I’ve ever experienced, 13 years back. My near insta-review that followed shortly thereafter: thequietus.com/quietus-revi...
February 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM
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everyone involved in this could be played by paul giamatti
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, predicting 6 more weeks of winter weather.
February 2, 2026 at 2:48 PM
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February 2, 2026 at 2:20 PM
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my first (only?) time seeing it i thought the same thing and then imagined a future/alien historian discovering footage and writing about human groundhogworship practices of the 20th centuries🤭
February 2, 2026 at 2:21 PM
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Kind of amazing that it’s 2026, the cinematic moving image is over 130 years old, we have witnessed 3D, IMAX, Technicolor, CGI and beyond, yet hair and make-up departments are still unable to manufacture a beard that doesn’t resemble a £7.99 comedy purchase from madpiratejokeshop.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:17 PM
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Happy Groundhog Day!!
February 2, 2026 at 2:17 PM
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If you have school age kids, this piece by @melodyschreiber.com is a must-read. Vaccine schedules are NOT a federal thing and efforts at state level to MANDATE dropping them faces significant head-winds. 1/n
notadoctor.news/2026/02/01/w...
February 2, 2026 at 1:59 PM
So I’ve never actually seen a clip of the annual appearance and in stumbling on it just now I heard a guy introducing him with pro-wrestler vibes as “PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL!” while he was being held up and now I wonder who his opponent from the top rope will be.
February 2, 2026 at 2:15 PM
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Just yet another thing I found small joy in that I gotta abstain.
A friend recently bought me these Tiny Tates Gluten Free cookies and they're pretty delicious. I googled them to see where I could buy more but instead this popped up.

Gross. Evil.

I'll find another sweet treat.

ny.eater.com/2021/3/12/22...
Tate’s Bake Shop Workers Allegedly Threatened With Deportation Due to Unionization Efforts
Plus, NYC restaurateurs eagerly look forward to next boost of federal aid — and more intel
ny.eater.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
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Back on the air for Early on KEXP playing Black composers of ambient, new age and minimalist music for our Black History Month kickoff. Starting off with some Julius Eastman 🎵🎵🎵

Listen at kexp.org
KEXP - Where the Music Matters
KEXP is a nonprofit arts organization serving music lovers through in-person, broadcast and online programming.
kexp.org
February 2, 2026 at 1:13 PM
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Punxsutawney, here’s a head of lettuce and carrot. You didn’t see nothin
February 2, 2026 at 1:14 PM
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NEW: Following multiple SpaceX Starship explosions that caused commercial jets to scramble for safety, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a broad warning that rocket launches could “significantly reduce safety” for airplanes.
FAA Warns Airlines About Safety Risks From Rocket Launches, Urges “Extreme Caution”
The agency’s official safety alert comes as SpaceX looks to ramp up Starship tests. A recent ProPublica investigation found that explosions during previous Starship launches disrupted air traffic and forced pilots to scramble for safety.
www.propublica.org
February 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
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Holy moly. Show this to anyone who says, "Wow, it's cold. So much for global warming!"
A data-driven mosaic of our warming planet - now updated through 2025 🥵

Download graphic at zacklabe.com/climate-chan...
February 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM