iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I don't know why, but Poltergeist III hit me so hard. I saw it when I was 9, I think, and was afraid to get too close to mirrors for years afterwards, convinced that my reflection hated me. I was only vaguely aware that Heather O'Rourke was already dead in real life before I saw the movie.

A scene from Poltergeist III. A short older woman, a tall elegantly dressed woman with extremely eighties hair, and two men in suits all stand way too close to a mirror in the center of the screen, so all their reflections are obvious. On the left, in the reflection, behind these four adults, is a young girl in red with a speak 'n spell, Carol Anne Freeling, played by Heather O'Rourke. She does not appear in the "true" image on the right.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

About to see Ray LaMontagne and these are ridiculous conditions. 25 mph winds driving in rain under the pavilion at Harbor Lights. The tent is about 40% empty and that’s being generous. Everyone is very cold.

The lack of crowd at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston. Blowing wind and rain not really visible but very much there, trust me.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

It feels dumb to complain about, but I’ve been mostly enjoying the new House of the Dragon season, even though it’s bleak and most characters are unlikable. But then they brought back my least favorite GoT innovation: unexplained teleportation.

A map of the Crowlands region of Westeros, from the World of Ice and Fire (2014). In green I’ve circled Tumbleton, where the Hightower army spends much of season three. It is noticeably southwest of King’s Landing and on the opposite side of a large river, notably impassable in the show itself! In blue I’ve circled the Blackwater Bay coast near Rosby, northeast of Kings Landing, where the Hightowers seem to be able to send a large party of armed men, instantly and undetected.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Surprisingly hard to find gifs from this movie.

A screenshot from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Chow Yun-Fat faces Zhang Ziyi, swords drawn, high up in the branches of a tree.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Best Star Trek Captain, WRONG answers only

Laurence Fishburne as Capt Miller and Joely Richardson as Starck, wearing quasi-military space uniforms, in front of a closed spaceship hatch, reacting in terror to something horrendous Sam Neill is doing.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

What do you think I’m doing on vacation Vrbo?

A Facebook ad for Vrbo, which I’ve never used, but I presume is some kind of Airbnb type thing? It says “Private vacation home in Eureka Springs” and shows only an X-cross bondage frame.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Okay one more because how have I never noticed this Die Hard cameo?????

Sgt Al Powell from Die Hard, aka Reginald VelJohnson, “Ok, Ghostbusters,” and takes them off to see the mayor.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I like that they made the effort to mock up all these magazine covers

Ray accepts some roast duck in payment in Chinatown, as a NY Post headline says “Ghost Cops Bust Chinatown Spook” with a photo of the ghostbusters looking miserable underneath.

Larry King talks on the radio, “The controversy builds, more sightings are reported.” Next to a Time magazine cover with a glamor shot pose and the headline “Ghostbusters: Supernatural Success Story.”

An Omni magazine cover featuring a proton pack and the headline, “Quantum Leaps: Ghostbusters’ tools of the trade” In the background shot, Egon stands on the street getting skeptical New York looks from passerby as Ray shouts, “I got it, I got it!”

Ray and Egon show off a trap for TV cameras as a crowd looks on and the theme song plays. The Cover of The Atlantic says, “THE POLITICS OF THE NEXT DIMENSION
DO GHOSTS HAVE CIVIL RIGHTS?” Over cartoons of the ghostbusters chasing a ghost.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Ironically, this is the same thing my teen D&D kids say.

Egon, Venkman, and Ray, in full ghostbusting gear for the first time and having just blown up the hotel maid’s cleaning cart. Ray, “uh, I think we’d better split up.”

Egon, looking down, “good idea.” Venkman, smirking, “Yeah, we can do more damage that way.”

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The fridge is a bust, so let’s try some sexual harassment. Good plan. Great plan!

Looking into a fridge, with leftovers, including a casserole dish WHICH I OWN, Dana says to Venkman, “and there were creatures writhing around….”

After nothing else turns up, Venkman goes for broke, “I am madly in love with you.”

Dana to Venkman, “Will you PLEASE leave????”

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Dana Barrett is so so too good for him. But let’s check out that apartment anyway.

Venkman with Dana Barrett, “I want it to happen to me first” as he dramatically throws himself in front of nonexistent threats

Venkman, “I’ll go check out Miss [gag] Barrett’s apartment, okay?”

The art deco NY Ghostbusters apartment where Dana Barrett lives with a GIANT temple to Zulu on the roof.

A nice doggy with a laser in his mouth saying, “Zuul!”

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Egon, meanwhile, is very handy and also more autistic-coded than I remember as he hooks up Janine’s computer and fails to notice the multiple passes she makes at him

Ghostbusters: Egon climbs out from under the desk Janine is sitting at, inappropriately close to her, but she doesn’t mind, saying “You’re very handy, I can tell,” before talking about how she likes to read and asking about his hobbies. Collecting spores, molds, and fungus, as one does.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I forget that on top of being a completely inappropriate horndog, Venkman also drinks randomly, bursts into song, and shamelessly takes advantage of Ray in the name of capitalism

A scene from Ghostbusters, where Venkman half sings “Everything happens for a reason,” right before making Ray take out a triple mortgage at 18% interest on his parents’ house.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

It’s been a very long day, with multiple different work events. So now it’s time for bourbon, barbecue, and Ghostbusters

A plate of barbecue, an old fashioned, and the New York Public Library in the opening scene of Ghostbusters in the background

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

It’s pretty crazy! We heard it all the way up here and someone linked to the satellite loop from when it happened:

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

This graph is making the rounds again, which always hits me hard since I can see the exact moment I gave up on writing my dissertation. But despite that, I've been teaching part time for over 12 years and just received a Distinguished Faculty award for Continuing Education. So it worked out.

The American History Association annual jobs report, which highlights how the market for full time faculty historians pretty much died in 2008 (and it was particularly bad for medievalists).

Me, in rented academic regalia and a big ass medal, going to my school's commencement and (along with other faculty in the front row) getting a bit of recognition for helping our students get to graduation.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Just in time for the release of A Parade of Horribles, I stayed up til almost 1am last night finishing This Inevitable Ruin! I got sucked into this series with the zany humor and over the top (sometimes grossout) action sequences, but I'm hooked because of the emotional oomph.

Book cover of This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman, with the author name and title in stylized aqua text over a black background. In the center, in pink with aqua accents, Donut the Cat shoots lasers from her eyes while sitting across a tall tower, while Carl climbs up the outside of the building, cape flapping in the wind and heart-covered enchanted boxer shorts on full display.

Book cover for A Parade of Horribles, by Matt Dinniman. The text is in yellow over a black and red background. In the center, a purple and black old fashioined truck appears to be driving down a hill, with Donut the cat at the wheel. Dungeon Crawler Carl is in a surfing pose on top of the truck. There also seems to be an enormous Tommy gun affixed to the roof of the truck. Above, red and black clawed hands reach for them from the shadows.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

We just started a rewatch of The Mummy last night! Also, my contribution to the thread:

Sigourney Weaver playing Ellen Ripley in Aliens, in the APC after the initial raid on the alien nest fails, saying "I saw we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit."

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

We were talking about who should play Dungeon Crawler Carl in the upcoming show. Hard to get past Austin Butler as shown by Caught Stealing. Tough but emotional, downplays past trauma, takes a beating and keeps going, spends lots of the movie in his underwear. Most importantly works well with cat.

Austin Butler as Hank Thompson in the movie Caught Stealing, wielding a baseball bat in front of a flyer covered refrigerator.

Austin Butler, looking rough, and Tonic, playing Bud the Cat, sitting in front of a grungy New York wall.

Austin Butler, naked except for boxer briefs, being threatened by Bad Bunny

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

I don't have that many shipping opinions so this probably isn't even that controversial, but these two were definitely exes.

Eames (Tom Hardy) and Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in Inception

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I mean, it wasn't quite go-karts, but...

Screenshot from Final Fantasy VII showing Cloud and a Moogle riding Chocobos

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Bonus points to opener Sofia Isella, performing a killer solo show, and totally getting the assignment: demonic possession (complimentary)

Sofia Isella, in ragged clothes, dirty hair hanging down over her muddied face, filthy cloths wrapped around her hands and wrists, holding up her violin in one hand while she smiles and pulls the souls out of everyone in TD Garden.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Florence + the Machine, Everybody Scream. Amazing experience Monday night.

Florence Welch, in a green dress, singing her heart out, while back up dancers lay on the ground behind her, arms extending in the air.

Florence singing to the crowd while back up dancers, possibly possessed, shamble gracefully down the stage behind her

Full stage view with Florence’s face projected on the big screen

Opening of the show, Florence emerges from a stairway entrance of the thrust stage, with smoke billowing around her.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Get you to a concert where the band’s walk on music is the opening theme to Evangelion - Health x Carpenter Brut

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Achievement Unlocked: Font Magnification! One of (several) indications that Dungeon Crawler Carl is the Next Big Thing is that we now have the first four books in large print editions as well as regular which pretty much never happens for sci fi.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Nice. Now that's how you set the tone and build a winning culture

Shoresy - a character from the TV show of the same name, where his Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs hockey uniform and grinning

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

PWHL games are awesome and there are no bad seats at the Tsongas Center. Fleet are leading the league and it's going to be more fun than ever to yell Kelllllllller.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

The "white culture" in the show also includes this sadistic brat torturing a black girl for putting on a puppet show and stabbing a horse in the neck so that he can cheat at a joust, which starts a riot. Literally everyone hates him and [book spoiler] he eventually kills himself by drinking napalm.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

My apple music recap thing is kind of terrible and inaccurate, so here's just a few new albums that I enjoyed listening to this year: The Midnight - Syndicate Florence and the Machine - Everybody Scream Wet Leg - Moisturizer NIN - Tron: Ares

Album cover - The Midnight - Syndicate - a neon drenched Los Angeles skyline behind a shadow-darkened suburban street

Album cover - Florence and the Machine - Everybody Scream - Florence in period dress with her legs spread wide and skirts tucked up, reclining in a chair

Album cover - Wet Leg - Moisturizer - Rhian Teasdale crouched and baring her teeth looking very feral and staring at the camera, while Hester Chambers sits with her back to the viewer and her arms wrapped around herself. Both have long, claw-like fingernails.

Album cover - Nine Inch Nails - Tron: Ares - Red text on a black background

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Finally watched the first three episodes of Stranger Things (not the fourth, so no spoilers please!) and...

Anya from Buffy the Vampire, Season 6 episode Once More With Feeling, singing "I've got a theory"!

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Continued Halloween movie watching last night and got to Near Dark, which I'd somehow never seen. Impressive, gritty, nihilist vampire western. Kathryn Bigelow sets up a bunch of visual work that James Cameron then uses in T2 four years later. Maybe Bill Paxton's best role (apologies to Hudson)??

Bill Paxton and Adrian Pasdar in Near Dark (1987). Paxton leans against a bar, grinning maniacally, covered in blood, wearing shades and a leather jacket and holding a shotgun over his shoulder. Pasdar looks on apprehensively from a stool in the background.

A cast photo from Near Dark (1987). Bill Paxton on the left looks grim and dirty in a leather jacket with a gun in his waistband. Lance Hendrickson is in a long brown duster in the middle, looking like a stone-faced killer. In front is a boy, maybe 12, played by Joshua John Miller, angry and also with a gun at his belt. Next to them are Jenette Goldstein in chaps and a dirty jacket and eyes that say you're already dead. On the end is Jenny Wright in jeans and a pink shirt with cutoff sleeves, looking like she fell in with a bad crowd, but doesn't really mind that much.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

This is even funnier because the current post office in Chelmsford is next to the Hong & Kong Chinese American Restaurant, which is best known for having moderately terrible food and ridiculous scorpion bowls. (The Friendly's was down the street but closed 8 years ago 😭)

A photo of the Hong & Kong Chinese Restaurant with a cherry blossom tree in front of a somewhat nondescript building with a stylized pagoda sign on top.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Triple rabbits greeting me at work is hopefully a good sign for the day.

A grassy area with brush along the sides and three very small rabbits nibbling at the foliage

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

WAIT. SORRY. STOP THE PRESSES. The editor has been sacked. And the supervisor responsible for sacking the editor has also been sacked. The actual perfect album of 1996 was hiding in plain sight all along:

The original broadway cast recording album cover for RENT, featuring the cast members highlighted in different squares around the title in the center.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

I had a similar problem with 1996. First of all, 16 year old me's taste in music was not that great. Secondly, tons of artists (Tori Amos, Tool, Nick Cave, Weezer) had albums with great songs...but were they perfect albums? I don't know. But if we're going for the feeling of the time? Tie.

The cover of Rage Against the Machine's album, Evil Empire, featuring a creepy dead-eyed white boy with comb-over hair, a black cape, and a red hockey jersey with a lower case letter e in the middle.

The cover of the Spice Girl's album, Spice. Each Spice Girl has their photo imposed inside in a differently colored letter of the word Spice and there is a gold ring in the lower right corner that also says Spice.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

This just makes me miss Blaseball!

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Can I say Terminator: Dark Fate? Underrated movie, IMO! He and Linda Hamilton both having a blast and still bringing good depth as they come back to the characters 25 years later.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

I present the Great Northern Expedition as told by Stephen R. Bown in Island of the Blue Foxes! From St Petersburg to the Bering Strait (led in fact by Vitus Bering). “One of the most tragic and ghastly trials of suffering in the annals of maritime and arctic history."

The cover of Island of the Blue Foxes by Stephen R. Bown, "Disaster and Triumph on the World's Greatest Scientific Expedition." The book cover image features a three-masted 18th century ship being tossed on a cold and stormy sea.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

For reference! Really only chapter 3 is about Florence, but the rest of the book takes the reader from Ptolemaic Egypt to William Randolph Hearst talking about why powerful people (and governments) work to acquire and display exotic animals.

The cover of The Medici Giraffe: And Other Tales of Exotic Animals and Power by Marina Belozerskaya. The cover illustration features a lion, a camel, a giraffe, a couple of gazelle (or pronghorns) in the foreground, with palm trees framing them. In the background and elephant is being ridden by a man while two other people look on in front of a building that could be a mosque or a Mediterranean palace of some sort

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Probably obvious, but The Northman. Not a direct adaptation of any one thing, but pulls bits in from Grettis saga, Vápnfirðinga saga, and a couple of others as well as the more clear cut Hamlet/Amleth stuff from Saxo Grammaticus. I really liked the costuming and farm life details in particular.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

I have it on good authority (@cryptozooloren.bsky.social) that the Pamola in Maine has the head of a moose, the body of a man, and the wings of an eagle!

A small shelf diorama display at the Cryptozoology museum showing both the Spectral Moose of Maine (a giant white moose) and the Pamola, a spirit described by the Penobscot people as having the head of a moose, the body of a man, and the wings and feet of an eagle.

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Always fun when the new book cart rolls in and you get to say, hey, I know that one! @lollardfish.bsky.social @profgabriele.com

The book Oathbreakers by Matthew Gabriel and David Perry on a cart with other new library books

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Jefftober @libraryjeff.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Porting this over from the bad place, because damnit we should be able to have nice things! Mill No. 5 has been one of the best things about Lowell for a while and its closing sucks. Hive and Forge starting a new public market to replace it is an amazing step to course correct. gofund.me/dc20ceba

A fund raising image for The Hive Public Market at 741 Merrimack St in Lowell, MA. Hive and Forge and several other shops from Mill Number 5 are attempting to revitalize the former St Jean Baptiste church "into vibrant and vibing community, mercantile, and art spaces." Mill Number 5 is permanently closing at the beginning of February.

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