Paul O’Brien
@ifdestroyed.bsky.social
Writes about comics at housetoastonish.com
Since I'm now reading my way through Ann Nocenti's Daredevil run, question: What was Hell's Kitchen actually like by this point (1987)? Would Marvel's version have seemed like a pre-gentrification throwback even at the time?
February 3, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Since I'm now reading my way through Ann Nocenti's Daredevil run, question: What was Hell's Kitchen actually like by this point (1987)? Would Marvel's version have seemed like a pre-gentrification throwback even at the time?
This is genuine - the story is also on the local Fox station’s website.
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 9:40 PM
This is genuine - the story is also on the local Fox station’s website.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Three very noticeable things here in the UK public.
1. The direction of travel, away from the US and towards Europe.
2. The speed of that travel, the gap increasing by 16 points.
3. The landslide of opinion pro-Europe/anti-US. Well over two-to-one in favour of preserving autonomy.
1. The direction of travel, away from the US and towards Europe.
2. The speed of that travel, the gap increasing by 16 points.
3. The landslide of opinion pro-Europe/anti-US. Well over two-to-one in favour of preserving autonomy.
Following the Greenland crisis, Britons increasingly opt to prioritise protecting Europe's autonomy over preserving the US-Europe alliance
Preserve European autonomy: 53% (+9 from 16-17 Jan)
Preserve US-Europe alliance: 23% (-7)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Preserve European autonomy: 53% (+9 from 16-17 Jan)
Preserve US-Europe alliance: 23% (-7)
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
February 3, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Three very noticeable things here in the UK public.
1. The direction of travel, away from the US and towards Europe.
2. The speed of that travel, the gap increasing by 16 points.
3. The landslide of opinion pro-Europe/anti-US. Well over two-to-one in favour of preserving autonomy.
1. The direction of travel, away from the US and towards Europe.
2. The speed of that travel, the gap increasing by 16 points.
3. The landslide of opinion pro-Europe/anti-US. Well over two-to-one in favour of preserving autonomy.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
House to Astonish Presents: The Lightning Round Episode 29 is now live, as @ifdestroyed.bsky.social and I step into the ring to face the face-fracturing force of the Fightbolts, and find it to be... fine? bit.ly/lightningrou...
House to Astonish » House to Astonish Presents: The Lightning Round Episode 29
bit.ly
February 2, 2026 at 10:32 PM
House to Astonish Presents: The Lightning Round Episode 29 is now live, as @ifdestroyed.bsky.social and I step into the ring to face the face-fracturing force of the Fightbolts, and find it to be... fine? bit.ly/lightningrou...
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
What's that? Peter Mandelson resigning from something again? FIRE UP THE (OLD) SKETCH! thecritic.co.uk/oh-m...
February 1, 2026 at 10:50 PM
What's that? Peter Mandelson resigning from something again? FIRE UP THE (OLD) SKETCH! thecritic.co.uk/oh-m...
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Here's Cliff welcoming us into February with a baffling caption and another below-par photo off his camera reel. (We used to get dolphins leaping in the background, ffs.)
February 1, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Here's Cliff welcoming us into February with a baffling caption and another below-par photo off his camera reel. (We used to get dolphins leaping in the background, ffs.)
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Amazon has placed a VERY specific product warning on the published edition of the Kenneth Williams diaries. The incident that prompted this surely deserved more media attention.
January 31, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Amazon has placed a VERY specific product warning on the published edition of the Kenneth Williams diaries. The incident that prompted this surely deserved more media attention.
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #71: Sunturion II.
House to Astonish » Daredevil Villains #71: Sunturion II
www.housetoastonish.com
February 1, 2026 at 11:58 AM
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #71: Sunturion II.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Blog update: In September 1986, New Order competed with themselves for the indie chart number one - with "State Of The Nation" ultimately beating their "Peel Session" EP. So why does nobody talk about "State Of The Nation" nowadays? It can't just be the lyrics, surely?
86. New Order - State Of The Nation (Factory)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Blog update: In September 1986, New Order competed with themselves for the indie chart number one - with "State Of The Nation" ultimately beating their "Peel Session" EP. So why does nobody talk about "State Of The Nation" nowadays? It can't just be the lyrics, surely?
On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.
House to Astonish » Charts – 30 January 2026
www.housetoastonish.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:13 PM
On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
If ICE really wanted to clear the streets they would do an outdoor showing of the Melania movie.
January 29, 2026 at 2:58 AM
If ICE really wanted to clear the streets they would do an outdoor showing of the Melania movie.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
On this front, I continue to feel utterly vindicated that I do not report on FindOutNow polling, given yesterday they published a poll with a sample of 143 respondents, and only 51 giving an actual party response, for this by-election, which was reported as if it were credible by some sources.
I for one am extremely excited for the entire UK media to spend the next few months obsessing over a single constituency in the Westminster Parliament when general elections to Holyrood and the Senedd are rapidly approaching
January 29, 2026 at 12:15 PM
On this front, I continue to feel utterly vindicated that I do not report on FindOutNow polling, given yesterday they published a poll with a sample of 143 respondents, and only 51 giving an actual party response, for this by-election, which was reported as if it were credible by some sources.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Television began on this day in 1926. Shortly after that, Doctor Who fans started a campaign to get rid of the current producer.
January 26, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Television began on this day in 1926. Shortly after that, Doctor Who fans started a campaign to get rid of the current producer.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Holy cow they’ve lost Mumm-Ra
Sepp Blatter suggests fans should not travel to US for World Cup
Sepp Blatter suggests fans should not travel to US for World Cup
*
Ex-Fifa boss shows support for boycott calls
*
Security concerns over tournament have risen
Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Monday suggested he supports fans boycotting World Cup matches in the United States this year due to security concerns.
Blatter gave his support to comments from Swiss anti-corruption lawyer Mark Pieth, who worked with Fifa on potential reforms when Blatter was president, saying fans should stay away from the US for the tournament. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Holy cow they’ve lost Mumm-Ra
What the heck was The Squad?!?
January 25, 2026 at 7:34 PM
What the heck was The Squad?!?
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten.
House to Astonish » Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten
www.housetoastonish.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:54 PM
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten.
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten.
House to Astonish » Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten
www.housetoastonish.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:54 PM
On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #70: The Council of Ten.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
Blog update: In September 1986, Depeche Mode returned to the number one spot of the NME Indie Chart with "A Question Of Time". With its chugging rhythm and guitar sampled riff it sounded punchy and fresh, but who on earth were those lyrics about?
indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2026/01/85-d...
indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2026/01/85-d...
85. Depeche Mode - A Question Of Time (Mute)
All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.
indienumber1s.blogspot.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Blog update: In September 1986, Depeche Mode returned to the number one spot of the NME Indie Chart with "A Question Of Time". With its chugging rhythm and guitar sampled riff it sounded punchy and fresh, but who on earth were those lyrics about?
indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2026/01/85-d...
indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2026/01/85-d...
I expect he thinks if he leaves it any longer then he’ll miss the next leadership election so he has nothing to lose.
January 24, 2026 at 9:06 PM
I expect he thinks if he leaves it any longer then he’ll miss the next leadership election so he has nothing to lose.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
There's no way FIFA should be hosting a World Cup in the US in this climate. It's a big risk if they do, potentially endangering visiting and domestic fans.
If you're living somewhere outside the USA, one thing you can do is pressure your leaders to boycott World Cup and Olympic events here.
January 24, 2026 at 8:43 PM
There's no way FIFA should be hosting a World Cup in the US in this climate. It's a big risk if they do, potentially endangering visiting and domestic fans.
On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.
House to Astonish » Charts – 23 January 2026
www.housetoastonish.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:10 PM
On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.
Reposted by Paul O’Brien
“You guys just got to the last page?”
January 24, 2026 at 10:04 AM
“You guys just got to the last page?”
On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.
House to Astonish » The X-Axis – 21 January 2026
www.housetoastonish.com
January 23, 2026 at 11:14 PM
On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.