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YO MIKE WHATCHA LIKE?

Hi! ​Hey! Welcome!

Today it's ethical Spotify alternatives, a new Superman & Spider-Man crossover, and the 'Retro' photo app. Plus: an e-reader for ants, modernised Bluetooth Walkmans, and 52 things learned in 2025.

Boom boom here we go!

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🎵 If you're a Spotify user but you'd rather give your money to a platform that better respects the income of its artists, Brian Merchant has a great blog post ranking the alternatives by price, artist revenue, sound quality, and so on. Check it out!

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🎵 This list of fun music facts is not just fun; it's all the way mindblowing. I don't know how accurate all the facts are, but I'm embracing them all!

Corey Hart declined the offer to sing “Danger Zone” for “Top Gun.” The record label for “The Breakfast Club” wanted Hart to sing “Don’t You Forget About Me,” but the songwriter wanted Simple Minds (who initially declined).

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📼 Got a hankering for some '80s tech, refurbished to a 'good as new' condition? That's what Retrospekt does. It ain't cheap, of course, but if you're going for a vibe... this could be a great place to shop!

Or... if you like the idea of retro gadgets but can't live without modern tech, these 'Modern Walkmans' are pocketable cassette players with the magic of Bluetooth! (Hat tip to Josh ✌️)

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🗯️ Is it a bird? A plane? A... spider?! Every now and then, the comic book titans of Marvel (Avengers, Spider-Man, etc) and DC (Superman, Batman, etc) get together for some cross-dimensional team-ups and brawls.

There's a huge series of it going on right now, but one to be super excited about is March's Superman & Spider-Man encounter!

"When journalists Clark Kent and Peter Parker find themselves chasing the same story, the conspiracy they uncover could change the world—especially if Brainiac and Doctor Octopus have anything to say about it."

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🗞️ Long read: "You’re on Ozempic? How Quaint." The apparent miracle weight-loss drug Ozempic has dominated health headlines for a while, but it looks like some even more capable options are right around the corner.

🙅 While we're on the topic (as in, before you deride the idea of 'shortcutting' or 'cheating' your way to weight loss), here's an important list of widespread misconceptions about obesity.

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This almost hilariously tiny e-reader, the Xteink X4, is very compelling! It has a Magsafe magnet on the back, and fits neatly on the back of an iPhone. Clever idea, and pretty cheap at US$69 (A$103). You can check out a video review here.

Me, though, I'm perfectly content reading books on my phone. I've been doing it for years and it's never bothered me!

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🤯 wtf... Researchers have developed a 'fibre computer' that is stretchable and machine washable, with a six-hour battery life, weighing about as much as a sheet of A4 paper. (But can it run Doom???)

This fact and more from Tom Whitwell's incredible post, 52 things I learned in 2025.

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🖼️ I've returned to the Retro app today, which you might know of. It's basically an Instagram alternative that focuses much more specifically on your friends, and memories. You can check out their 'ethos' post here too.

The main theme is that you post a photo every day (not that you have to), and it works as a sort of photo diary. There's also an albums page, which is where you can post in a more Instagram-like way, dumping as many photos as you like.

I don't have any friends on there yet (🤣😢), so I can't tell you what that part is like – but I'm digging the concept!

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Okay, we're done for today. How was it?

Did you enjoy this email? Got a suggestion for something to include in YOMIKE? Say hello, let me know!