New toy - Oberheim Systemizer

I'm thrilled to have found this on eBay for under £30 - an Oberheim Systemizer. One of the Perf/X series, it's a MIDI performance processor which adds zoning, velocity switch, controller switch, position cross-fade, velocity cross-fade, aftertouch cross-fade, controller cross-fade, local hold, split release, patch change and so on to your keyboard setup. I'll probably never need it, but since I have an Oberheim Cyclone, Strummer and Drummer, it's nice to have - lovely condition too, boxed with manual. Now I discover there's another Perf/X device, the Navigator, so I'll have to start looking for one of them...

Dalek crazy!

I'm buying a load of Dalek toys at the moment with a view to customising them. There are some good examples on eBay, like this blue one... I'm sure I can do just as good a job, and maybe add flashing LEDS...

Star Trek toys at Burger King

I haven't eaten at Burger King for years, but I had to go in the investigate the Star Trek toys they're doing with kids' meals this month. It's a great selection of super-deformed characters and spaceships, and the best part is they have speech chips with lines from the movie. I've managed to blag a whole set, without having to eat a single burger...

Star Trek, the new movie reviewed

Spoiler Alert! If you don't want to know about the plot of the new Star Trek movie, don't read on! I saw it last night courtesy of Xbox360 Movie Club.

I have to admit it's an enjoyable movie; big budget, action-packed, decently performed and with enough nods to geekdom to keep both old fans and new happy.

But it lacks depth, and there are some bum notes - Simon Pegg neither looks, sounds or acts like Scott, and there are some huge plot holes - what are the odds of two people stranded independently on an ice planet finding each other? And could someone decide whether Vulcan has a moon or not? But what annoyed me most is that the time-travel plot completely tears up Classic Trek continuity. So now there's no planet Vulcan - does that mean no Amok Time, no Voyage Home...?

Anyway, it was better than Insurrection, and Nemesis, and Enterprise, so I won't grumble too much. Perhaps the next one will present fewer difficulties. And I'll still collect the Burger King toys.