iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Wait, am I being trolled?

A white Tesla with the license plate WALLYYY.

James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Watching BACKROOMS with subtitles on, I was tickled to note that they subtitled this scene by having Bastian scream, "Don't Die!" instead of "Moonchild!" out the window!

A clip from the movie BACKROOMS: three people sitting on a living sofa, watching tv. The scene on the tv is a clip from the movie THE NEVERENDING STORY, wherein the central character Bastian is screaming out a new name for the childlike empress.

The subtitle here reads as follows:

BOY (ON TV):
Don’t Die!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The book is called END TIMES FASCISM. It’s a great Halloween book because it’s scary as hell, but also true, which makes it even scarier. You should read it.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When you’re driving to work listening to the Twitter/X chapter of @naomiaklein.bsky.social & @astra.bsky.social’s new book and the car in front of you has this license plate.

Photo of the back of a silver Kia Optima with a license plate beginning with 9GRK (the rest intentionally obscured by a gray box).

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I feel like I need to document every sighting now. Whhhhyy not?

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

No. No no no nonononono.

Apple Weather app sez:

Burbank
104° / Sunny

Averages
+17° above average daily high
Average H: 87°

Feels Like
107°
It feels hotter than the actually temperature

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Happy #StarTrek 60th! Here’s the ironic typo I caught on Apple Music while listening to the classic Motion Picture score by Jerry Goldsmith. (Yes, I reported it.)

STAR TREK
THE MOTION PICTURE
THE DIRECTOR'S EDITION
MUSIC COMPOSED AND CONDUCTED BY
JERRY GOLDSMITH

Malfuction

Jerry Goldsmith • Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition (Music from the Motion Picture) • April 5, 2022

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We meet again. I guess we both work for the same company!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Shout out to this driver, who perfectly captured what so many of us are thinking.

It’s the standard issue white Tesla, which probably comes free with every new mortgage in Los Angeles now.

The license plate says what we’re all thinking: WHHHHYY

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I … don’t want to try that.

It’s Larchmont Street in Los Angeles, home to all sorts of influencer friendly food spots and cuisines.

But not this:

A sign advertising “Try our new bolognese pasta gelato.”

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

What if we kissed at the Club Med on Ass Street?

MED ASS🧍ST
MEDICAL SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT

Our house in the middle of Ass Street …?

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Here’s a literal Weird one! I got to work behind-the-scenes with my idol Al for a live show at the Hollywood Bowl. He was to perform the Oompa Loompa songs for a live-to-film concert showing of the original WILLY WONKA movie with orchestra and live performers. Totally Weird. Totally wonderful.

Me, Weird Al, and show director Richard Kraft, hunched over to look at computer renderings of the set for Al’s performances singing the Oompa Loompa songs from WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY live-to-film concert experience at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017.

Weird Al performs an Oompa Loompa song for the WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY live-to-film concert experience at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Makes me think fondly of that time when I got to be a Waterboy for one golden night, playing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” back in 2013.

Me with tuba, on stage with Mike Scott & The Waterboys, playing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” back in 2013, Los Angeles.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Meanwhile, we here in the States are awash in so many pickles that we’ve begun to make clothing out of the surplus pickles supply, which is huge for the environment. Why does Canada hate sustainability?

Pickles! T-shirts, socks, hats and more. All made from America’s surplus pickle supply.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

For Jews wrestling w/their cultural identities who feel misaligned w/Israel politically, I highly recommend the new non-fiction book HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY by Molly Crabapple. It explores the story of the socialist anti-Zionist Jewish Bund from the pogroms thru WWII. (See Alt for more)

THE STORY OF THE JEWISH BUND
-
HERE WHERE WE LIVE IS OUR COUNTRY
-
CO-AUTHOR OF BROTHERS OF THE GUN
-
MOLLY CRABAPPLE

From the book description:

“In the aftermath of the Holocaust, Sam Rothbort created “memory paintings” with the hope of resurrecting the vanished world of his shtetl childhood. Decades later, his great-granddaughter, the award-winning artist Molly Crabapple, discovered these paintings and one stood out: a girl, her dress the color of sky, hurling a rock through a cottage window. Itka the Bundist, Breaking Windows.

Itka is how Crabapple met the Jewish Labor Bund. Once the most influential Jewish political force in eastern Europe, the Bund was secular, socialist, and uncompromisingly anti-Zionist. The Bundists fought for dignity and equality, not in an imagined homeland in Palestine but “here where we live.”

In the first popular history of the Bund, Crabapple re-creates their extraordinary world through dramatic portraits of insurgent poets and antireligious rebels, clandestine revolutionaries and lovers on the barricades. The Bundists live deeply within this violent, volatile, and somehow hopeful period, as their stories interweave with the Russian Revolution and the Holocaust. The Bund’s rise and fall raises the vital question: What can we learn from a movement that, for all its toughness, imagination, and moral clarity, was largely destroyed?

Here Where We Live Is Our Country reanimates a band of idealists who broadened our global political imagination. As we once again contend with nationalism, repression, and the struggle for belonging, the Bund’s remarkable story and message—that liberation, dignity, and solidarity must begin where we stand—reaches across time as a guide to our own urgent moment.”

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Many thanks to Google’s new search for providing this helpful graphic explaining neighboring rights in copyright law. #musicbusiness

An A.i. generated infographic explaining neighboring rights in copyright law.

NEIGHBORING RIGHTS
In Copyright Law

Performers, Producers

Performers, producers of produchs, rights, bo producers, igind sakedees, broadeets, thes rights, from neighbouring t Neighbouring these on rights

Broadcasters
Sound recording, and broadcests and perdett. ofstheges, anscassoupk,
frights and broadasts, and performances

Under Neigbouring Rights
Typkest scorks of auformert, concesinged and thaighcant fs brandasting, heviginces fon rights weterss rights lotlesesis ondliceted arights graints brefontright the poouts ine wghts onsesuct rights bese and opywight

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Here’s a pic, in case anyone is curious. All my pictures rest on the floor because we’re not allowed to put them on the walls ourselves. Installing things is a union job & we’re a union studio; also, it separately requires permission from the building landlord. So it’s been there about 9 months.

Photograph of a 24x36 framed picture in my work office:

#10 IN A TWELVE-ISSUE LIMITED SERIES

MARVEL SUPER HEROES
SECRET WARS

AGAINST THE BEYONDER…
TO THE DEATH!

The images depicts a tattered Dr. Doom, his armor and robe torn and ripped apart revealing bleeding lacerations in his arms and legs. He is kneeling with powered up fists glowing, looking defiantly upwards and ready to fight.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

This week I’m attempting what I’m calling #TheBodyDouble Challenge, reading both THE BODY audiobook by @stephenking.bsky.social (narrated by the irrepressible @wilwheaton.net) and the digital book of THE BODY by @bethanycmorrow.com. Who else wants to take the challenge, #booksky?

Cover to the audiobook THE BODY:

The #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

Stephen King
THE BODY
Read by Wil Wheaton

The basis for the classic film STAND BY ME

Cover to the digital book

THE BODY
Bethany C. Morrow

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

I received a fair amount of attention for this meme I didn't create. If I had created it, it would have been marginally better, noting that Clinton, Bush II, and Trump were all born in 1946, but the intent would've been the same.

Dr. Manhattan, sitting on Mars:

Panel 1: It is March 1997 and the President of the United States was born in 1946

Panel 2: It is March 2017 and the President of the United States was born in 1946

Panel 3: It is March 2027 the President of the United States was born in 1946

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Back at the office, spinning warped vinyl for as long as my ears can stand it.

Listening to a warped vinyl record of STAR WARS EP IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER on a 40th Anniversary special edition Crosley turntable. It sounds bad in so many ways.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Food stuff from a galaxy far, far away … (descriptions in Alt text)

Sesame Beef - Sakhet's Special
Marinated sliced rib eye, buckwheat noodles, sliced onions, tamari, sugar, mirin, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, nori and bonito flakes

Black Caf
Cold brew coffee, cream cheese vanilla cold foam, chocolate puff cereal, chocolate syrup

“Darth” by Chocolate
Red velvet cake, dark chocolate mousse, dark chocolate cake, milk chocolate mousse, Oreo crumbles, chocolate ganache, chocolate deco

Ewok-amole with Stormscoopers
Crushed avocado, tomato, lemon, red onion, crispy tortilla chips

Bantha blue milk & cookies
Coconut and oat milk panna cotta, with accents of lychee and mango, blue butter cookies, with white chocolate ganache

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

It’s Caregiving Advocacy Day, and we’re here in Sacramento to meet with some Assemblymembers and Senators and/or their teams. Caregivers, we see you!

The Capitol dome in Sacramento, lit up at night with some trees in front.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

But wait, aren’t there exceptions?

No. There are no exceptions. Not even if:

- The issue is of national importance. Many issues are, and votes taken by Senators certainly affect all Americans, not just constituents from their state. But calling from out of district/state is still counterproductive for all of the reasons above, no matter how much national significance an issue carries.

- The MoC is in House or Senate leadership. Yes, majority and minority leaders and other members of leadership are in charge of their entire caucuses, and they hold more influence and power than anyone else in their party. But that still doesn’t mean they care what people who aren’t their constituents think—they don’t. You should only call Nancy Pelosi if you live in California’s 12th Congressional district. You should only call Mitch McConnell if you live in Kentucky. And you should only call Chuck Schumer if you live in New York, for all of the same reasons above.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Tomorrow the company cafe has a special “April Fools Day Twisted Menu” featuring hamburger pizza and chicken lo mein burritos, which has me thinking of this article about the flawed nature of centrist politics, by @doctorow.pluralistic.net. pluralistic.net/2023/06/17/p... More in the alt-text.

It’s a Pizzaburgers.

Per Cory Doctorow, re: centrist politics:

This school of politics — “Everyone is angry at me, therefore I am doing something right” — has a name, courtesy of Anat Shenker-Osorio: “Pizzaburger politics.” Say half your family wants burgers for dinner and the other half wants pizza: make a pizzaburger and disappoint all of them, and declare yourself to be a politics genius.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

We were invited to a screening of PROJECT HAIL MARY at the IMAX Headquarters, and holy cow, what a thrilling film in every way. I can’t conceive of a better way to experience that movie. Loved the book. Loved the movie. Loved the theater. And popcorn, candy, and water were provided!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

11 years ago, I left this Yelp review for this House of LIES. I stand by it!

Reviews
House of Pies
... over 11 years ago

This may be called House of Pies, but perhaps it would be appropriately renamed HOUSE OF LIES ...

Pie day (March 14th, or 3.14 for those of you who don't know) is a holiday in my household. We love pie. We've even been to Pie Town, New Mexico (look it up). Today was a special day.
Every year, my wife and | go some place for pie in geeky celebration of it, and this year was the most important one of the century, because on March 14, 2015 at 9:26:53, it became 3.141592653, and we went there from Westwood to celebrate at the right time.

It was an utter, utter disappointment. I mean ... HOW DOES A RESTAURANT NAMED HOUSE OF PIES RUN OUT OF PIES? ON PIE DAY?!

Really? Could you imagine if the House of Pancakes suddenly said, "Whoops, no more pancakes today, guys!"

And pie was all we went for, not even cruddy diner food.
We were seated at a booth, looking over the myriad options on the menu and planning our approach ... We debated with each other and finally settled on slices of the butterscotch and apple crumble.

Then the waitress dropped the bad news. "We are all out of pie." What? Huh? I don't understand ... "We have some cheesecake left." CHEESECAKE? on PIE DAY? And we HATE cheesecake. Was she sure? "I think we have a slice of the Bavarian chocolate cream left," she told us. Desperate, we agreed to one slice.

It was the worst piece of pie I've had in a long time. It was a shitty piece of very inferior chocolate whip of the worst variety-nothing creamy about it. It was just like a loose chocolate cool whip.
Ugh. I'm pretty sure that's not how it is in the German free state of Bavaria.

Shame shame shame on them.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Spoiler alert! The kid grows up to be a bass player.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

A real thing that happened to me at work one day, eleven years ago—and yes, it was real. (Phone number edited out.)

I was working at WMG, and this call came in, and I managed to grab this photo of the phone just before answering.

11:41a 03/12/25
From LYDON JOHN

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

In a perfect universe, Disney would deliver us the ultimate buddy cat film crossover where Goose the cat/flerken teams up with Grudge the cat from ST: DISCOVERY to save the galaxy.

Grudge, a large, fluffy, gray w/ dark stripes Maine Coon cat, from STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. She’s a Queen.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Very early on in the Pandemic, John Krasinski self-produced 8 eps of a heartwarming & uplifting YouTube series called SOME GOOD NEWS for no other reason than to try bringing some measure of joy & hope to our fraught lives. It was a lifeline that I’ll never forget. I think about that a lot. #GoodNews

Actor/director/producer John Krasinski wearing a suit and sitting in front of a homemade sign that reads, “SGN” ready to deliver some good news to lift everyone’s spirits during a scary, dark time.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Hey Kumail, I took my 80-yr old mom to Disney World this week & she had a ball. All 4 parks! She wore a pin that said “Happy 80th Birthday!” & everyone who saw it said hi & wished her happy bday. We took her to great restaurants & put her up in the Animal Kingdom Lodge to see giraffes. #GoodNews!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Does #Booksky remember the discussion about whether or not it's okay to cut books in half (ostensibly to make them more portable)? It showed up in my memories & reminded me of a story. 1/

Three large books that have been cut in half and piled atop of each other.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

The Eagle has the coolest captain, too!

It’s Hawkman, pilot of the Battlestar Galactica ship The Eagle!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

And we caught a glimpse of Spider-Man, who swung by right in front of us!

Take a look overhead!
Hey there,
There goes a Spider-Man!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

A thing I love about living in L.A. is sometimes getting to have lunch nearby a celebrity. Nice to see Ron Perlman today!

Ron Perlman sitting at a restaurant, tired of waiting for someone.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

This is covered in the article that accompanied the post, which I highly recommend you read. Compelling stuff. I love Public Domain Day!

Sound recordings within a movie are treated differently from separate sound recordings because copyright law's definition of "sound recording" specifically excludes "sounds accompanying a motion picture." So the 1930 recordings as they appeared in the film King of Jazz have the same copyright term as the movie and are public domain in 2026, while regular sound recordings from 1930 that were independent of motion pictures have the 100-year term and their copyrights won't expire until 2031.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

It’s a brand new record for 1990.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, or Alice in Chains.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

The shower in this hotel room has two full doors instead of some half door flood-producing catastrophe. Nature is healing!

A hotel shower with a luxurious TWO doors to keep the water on the inside where it belongs.

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Time to shop at these stores and bring large hauls to the register, dump them on the counter, and walk out in protest of these “return fees.” Sowing chaos is the only way to be heard here.

A news graphic about New Return Fees from retailers: Marshalls ($11.99), TJ Maxx ($11.99), Macys ($9.99), JC Penney ($8.00), and J. Crew ($7.50).

The banner reads, “Many retailers now charging some sort of return fee.”

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

In case you’re wondering, a true mind fuck is being on the Walt Disney Studio Lot for its annual holiday celebration—surrounded by pretty lights & decorations, gift booths & treats, snow machines & Disney characters— and the DJ is playing a Nine Inch Nails song.

It’s the corner of Mickey Ave & Dopey Drive at the Walt Disney Studio Lot, all decked out in holiday lights and decorations!

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James @moderntuba.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Groundhog’s Day is a Christmas movie. #changemymind

Three figures stand in the foreground, from right to left:

A man wearing a silly green hat with a groundhog popping out the top.

Another man, possibly but not Bill Murray, holds a live groundhog in his hands.

Someone in a giant beaver costume.

There is clearly a Christmas tree in the background.

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