iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Signs for "Moshiach," the supposed messiah, covering every inch of Crown Heights today (it's the Jewish holiday Sukkos). Can't believe how many people have been taken in by this grifter, the L. Ron Hubbard of Judaism.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 14h

Important work by Spencer, who knows more about this subject than just about anyone.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 22h

Happy birthday, Steve Dalachinsky! We miss you 😢. (Images from Autonomedia's 2026 Calendar of Jubilee Saints.)

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 22h

Last night's radio show is now in the @wfmu.bsky.social archives. Hear it or see the playlist here: wfmu.org/playlists/sh...

wfmu.org

It's Complicated with Dave Mandl

Audio & playlist from September 28, 2026

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 23h

I'm seeing a lot more people with wired earbuds lately. But on a bike? This seems like a bad idea.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This week's edition of my radio show, "It's Complicated" (an hour of prog and prog-adjacent music), wafts your way tonight at 7 p.m. Listen at 91.1 FM (NYC area), on the web at wfmu.org, or through the miracle that is the @wfmu.bsky.social app. (Watercolor by Valerie, age 13-ish.)

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Ralph: “Did you use my toothbrush?” Norton: “I don’t know, I just went ‘Eenie, Meenie, Meinie, Moe.’” Ralph (holding up his toothbrush): “Is this ‘Moe’?” Norton: “You know, I *thought* Meinie looked familiar.”

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It's solipsistic and childish to think that the world you move in is the same one that everyone else, of all ages, backgrounds, interests, races, and social classes, moves in, especially if we're talking about some pop song (or whatever it is).

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Among other reasons, this is the best time of year because the low (but not too low) temperatures at night mean I sleep like a baby. I also seem to have kicked seasonal affective disorder permanently.🌞

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Shopping-cart repository, Flatlands.

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Reposted by Dave Mandl

Sam (ABeardedPanda) @abeardedpanda.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Anyways, this is genuinely the funniest chart in the world because it shows Jill Stein's twitter use spikes every four years and only during years where there's a federal election so if she's breaking her silence now *someone* is panicking

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Every one of these confirmation hearings is a lie-fest, with no repercussions later. At this point any congressperson who believes anything these people say is a fucking idiot.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Optima uppercase (typeface) looks gorgeous in any context. It's the visual equivalent of "I'd be willing to listen to — just read names from the phone book."

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The other day I saw a completely overblown film, a period piece with unimaginably elaborate costumes, stunning photography, extreme special effects, huge fight scenes. My friend and I made the same comment almost simultaneously: "Well, that film gave work to almost a thousand people."

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Reposted by Dave Mandl

C. Robert Cargill @crobertcargill.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The vast majority of creatives are struggling. Writers are leaving LA in droves. Directors are driving Uber when they aren't lucky enough to get gigs directing dubs or subs for foreign films. Recognizable actors are finding jobs they won't be recognized in. The whole industry is shitty right now.

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Reposted by Dave Mandl

jesse jarnow @bourgwick.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

big love to @wfmu.bsky.social's own @davethespazz.bsky.social on a debut book i didn't know i needed: a biography of professional jerry lewis imitator sammy petrillo that's also a bowtie-spinning history of the seedy showbiz/comedy/burlesque underground. feralhouse.com/product/your...

book: Your Time Is Now: The Sammy Petrillo Story by Dave Abramson

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Hand-painted sign of the day (Brownsville).

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've come to love this vista on Empire Blvd., which I pass just about every day, but I'm living in a fool's paradise because they're building some towering monstrosity here and that'll be all you can see soon.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Ave L (I think—the GPS on my new camera isn't working so well).

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Last night's edition of my radio show featured arresting music by Prog Frog, the '90s Fripp/Toyah band Sunday All Over the World, and so much more. Hear it or see the playlist right here: wfmu.org/playlists/sh... @wfmu.bsky.social

wfmu.org

It's Complicated with Dave Mandl

Audio & playlist from September 21, 2026

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week's installment of my radio show, "It's Complicated" (an hour of prog and prog-adjacent music), blows through your door tonight at 7 p.m. Listen on the radio at 91.1 FM (NYC area), on the web at wfmu.org, or through the incredible, free @wfmu.bsky.social app.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My photo book, "Elevated Landscapes," is still available and would be honored to be added to your book collection. Read more about it or order a copy here: roman-nvmerals.myshopify.com/products/vol...

A photo from the book: train tracks over Coney Island Creek

A photo of the book's cover, showing the beautiful die-cut lettering

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Vinyl fence series: Remsen Ave.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

"Beware of Dog" isn't enough for some people.

Sign in driveway says "BEWARE OF BAD DOGS"

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Mobile car wash, East Flatbush.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Imagine being so incurious, so afraid of making a socially incorrect move, that you order up a pre-selected music collection with your £45 million house and beyond-state-of-the-art sound system.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Great idea to post these photos for people (like me) who don't live in D.C. and have never been to the Kennedy Center to see just what that psychopathic mf is willing to bulldoze just for jollies.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A new reboot of "The Prisoner"?

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

It's true that real Italian pasta places rarely use the word "pasta."

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Bergen Beach. This was an ad for the Museum of Sex. Either some prudish local tore off the key word (not unlikely) or some kid grabbed it so he could put a big pink "SEX" on his bedroom wall.

Bus with a torn ad for "MUSEUM OF —" on the front.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

If Bernie Sanders is actually working with Steve Bannon in some way, he's more dead to me than he already was. If they're merely appearing separately at the same event that's a little different and the headline writers are really irresponsible.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Fell off my bike for the second time in about three weeks. Flatbush Ave., some guy opened his car door without looking. I didn't get doored but I slammed on the brakes and went flying. Camera undamaged, bike damaged. Hands unhurt because I recently bought a pair of bike gloves for just this reason.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Jesus. I guess I'm lucky to have enjoyed the final days of civilization.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Start your morning* the best way possible by listening to yesterday's edition of my radio show, featuring prog-ish music from all over the place. Playlist and archive here: wfmu.org/playlists/sh... @wfmu.bsky.social * Europeans: your evening; Asians: your night

wfmu.org

It's Complicated with Dave Mandl

Audio & playlist from September 14, 2026

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Pair of unusually colored vinyl fences, Flatlands.

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Reposted by Dave Mandl

The Author, Séamas O'Reilly @seamas.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Occasionally, I'm reminded of my all time favourite piece of internet: this Reddit post from 12 years ago in which a guy claims he ruined dinner with his girlfriend's parents by refusing to admit he knew what a potato was.

TIFU by enraging the parents of my girlfriend by pretending not to know what a potato is.
Let me tell you that I have made a bad mistake this evening.

My girlfriend (who let me tell you is only my 2nd girlfriend of all time) said I am "invited to dinner" with her and her parents. I was very aghast, nervous, and bashful to be invited to such a situation. But I knew it must be done.

I met them nicely, I should tell you, and it started off in a good way. The idea slapped my mind that I should do a comic bit, to make a good impression and become known to them as a person who is amusing.

When I saw that baked potatoes were served I got the idea that it would be very good if I pretended I did not know what potatoes was. That would be funny.

Well let me tell you: backfired on my face. I'll tell you how.

So first when the potato became on my plate, I acted very interesting. I showed an expression on my face so as to seem that I was confused, astounded but in a restrained way, curious, and interested. They did notice, and seemed confused, but did not remark. So I asked "This looks very interesting. What is this?"

They stared at me and the mother said "It's a baked potato." And I was saying "Oh, interesting, a baked....what is it again?"

And she was like "A potato."

And I was like "A 'potato', oh interesting. Never heard of a potato, looks pretty good."

And then they didn't see I was clowning, but thought I really did not know what is a potato. So I knew I would be very shamed, humiliated, depressed, and disgusted if I admitted to making a bad joke, so what I did was to act as if it was not a joke but I committed to the act of pretending I didn't know what a potato is.

They asked me, VERY incredulous, did I really not know what a potato is? That I never heard of a potato. I went with it and told them, yes, I did not ever even hear of a potato. Not only had I never eaten a potato I had never heard the word potato.

This went on for a bit and my girlfriend was acting very confused and embarrassed by my "fucked up antics", and then the more insistent I was about not knowing what a potato is was when them parents starting thinking I DID know what a potato was.

Well let me tell you I had to commit 100% at this point. When I would not admit to knowing what a potato was, the father especially began to get annoyed. At one point he said something like "Enough is enough. You're fucking with us. Admit it." And I said "Sir, before today I never heard of a potato. I still don't know what a potato is, other than some kind of food. I don't know what to tell you."

Well let me tell you he got very annoyed. I decided to take a bite of the potato, and when I did I made a high pitched noise and said "Taste's very strange!"

That is when the father started yelling at me, and the mother kept saying "What are you doing?" and my girlfriend went to some other room.

Finally the father said I should "Get the fuck out of his house" and I said it was irrational to treat me like this just because I never heard of a potato before. Well let me tell you he didn't take that kindly.

Now in text messages I have been telling my girlfriend I really don't know what a potato is. The only way I can ever get out of this is for them to buy that I don't know what a potato is.

I wish I never started it but I can't go back. I think she will break up with me anyway.

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Dave Mandl @dmandl.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Coming your way tonight at 7:00 sharp: this week's edition of my radio show, "It's Complicated" (an hour of prog and prog-adjacent music). Hear it all at wfmu.org on the web, or via the towering @wfmu.bsky.social app. (Pictured: German proto-prog group Twenty Sixty Six and Then.)

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