Hal O’Brien
@hbobrien.bsky.social
I was born. I’ve moved around a bit. Married someone wonderful. Not dead yet. The rest are minutiae.
words — http://halobrien.com
pictures — http://obrien.photography
words — http://halobrien.com
pictures — http://obrien.photography
Having stumbled upon a web+YouTube rabbit hole about Delhi’s Central Vista project, I wonder about its impact on Trump. “Modi gets to play with his toys, why can’t I?”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
Central Vista Redevelopment Project - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
February 17, 2026 at 6:53 AM
Having stumbled upon a web+YouTube rabbit hole about Delhi’s Central Vista project, I wonder about its impact on Trump. “Modi gets to play with his toys, why can’t I?”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central...
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
It's not quite [shrug] "lick 'em tomorrow" but Domitius surveying the Seleucid army arrayed at Magnesia and saying "we'll kill 'em all in the morning; if we do it today we won't have time for dinner" is pretty memorable.
February 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
It's not quite [shrug] "lick 'em tomorrow" but Domitius surveying the Seleucid army arrayed at Magnesia and saying "we'll kill 'em all in the morning; if we do it today we won't have time for dinner" is pretty memorable.
Or…
“But the trouble with normal is, it always gets worse!”
“But the trouble with normal is, it always gets worse!”
"Beat at the darkness till it bleeds daylight."
What’s the best song lyric in history?
February 16, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Or…
“But the trouble with normal is, it always gets worse!”
“But the trouble with normal is, it always gets worse!”
Related:
“Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres”
“Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres”
"Beat at the darkness till it bleeds daylight."
What’s the best song lyric in history?
February 16, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Related:
“Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres”
“Tu me touche comme la pression
Des etoiles sur les tenebres”
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
February 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) excellent “About That,” presented by Andrew Chang, takes a look at Trump’s merging of US policy, and his very sensitive feelings. Special attention is paid (surprise!) to Canada’s options, and the actions of PM Mark Carney.
youtu.be/JDSX22EXcWg
youtu.be/JDSX22EXcWg
Why Trump just threatened Canada in Davos | About That
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 2:55 AM
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s (CBC) excellent “About That,” presented by Andrew Chang, takes a look at Trump’s merging of US policy, and his very sensitive feelings. Special attention is paid (surprise!) to Canada’s options, and the actions of PM Mark Carney.
youtu.be/JDSX22EXcWg
youtu.be/JDSX22EXcWg
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 PM
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
“Smooch the Tucc’” It’s a YouTube reaction series to S2 of Stanley Tucci’s SEARCHING FOR ITALY that I find charming. There’s just a looseness between the two hosts, Jenna and Wil, that I rarely see.
youtu.be/SdM1BPY5Ibc
youtu.be/SdM1BPY5Ibc
E2 Smooch The Tucc - Searching for Italy: Piedmont
YouTube video by Smooch theTucc
youtu.be
January 16, 2026 at 4:43 AM
“Smooch the Tucc’” It’s a YouTube reaction series to S2 of Stanley Tucci’s SEARCHING FOR ITALY that I find charming. There’s just a looseness between the two hosts, Jenna and Wil, that I rarely see.
youtu.be/SdM1BPY5Ibc
youtu.be/SdM1BPY5Ibc
So I’m not alone.
What’s interesting here is how YouTube is pounding both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Yeah, and everyone else as well, but those two are designed for streaming from the ground up, and don’t have a studio flacking for them.
What’s interesting here is how YouTube is pounding both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Yeah, and everyone else as well, but those two are designed for streaming from the ground up, and don’t have a studio flacking for them.
December 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
So I’m not alone.
What’s interesting here is how YouTube is pounding both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Yeah, and everyone else as well, but those two are designed for streaming from the ground up, and don’t have a studio flacking for them.
What’s interesting here is how YouTube is pounding both Netflix and Amazon Prime. Yeah, and everyone else as well, but those two are designed for streaming from the ground up, and don’t have a studio flacking for them.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
TIRED: “I alone can fix it.”
WIRED: “Do something Democrats!!!”
WIRED: “Do something Democrats!!!”
Trump trashes Obamacare in a new post. Funding under this law is the main dispute between the two parties in the ongoing government shutdown standoff.
October 31, 2025 at 1:19 AM
TIRED: “I alone can fix it.”
WIRED: “Do something Democrats!!!”
WIRED: “Do something Democrats!!!”
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
When you call yourself the leaders of a democratic country, but have to hide on a military base from the people that you rule.
"Stephen Miller soon joined a growing list of senior Trump-administration political appointees—at least six by our count—living in Washington-area military housing, where they are shielded not just from potential violence but also from protest." Others include Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth.
Top Trump Officials Are Moving Onto Military Bases
Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and others have taken over homes that until recently housed senior officers.
www.theatlantic.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:45 AM
When you call yourself the leaders of a democratic country, but have to hide on a military base from the people that you rule.
Lexicon — Doonesbury — “It seems like it was only yesterday…” “It *vas* only yesterday.”
October 27, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Lexicon — Doonesbury — “It seems like it was only yesterday…” “It *vas* only yesterday.”
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
Which country will win the World Series: Canada, or Japan
October 21, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Which country will win the World Series: Canada, or Japan
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
October 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
It's a goal of mine to help make this the most famous, well-known and UNDERSTOOD quote about cities in history. Please share it as much as you can.
I usually say my favorite team is the Red Sox, and whoever’s playing the Yankees.
Fortunately…
Fortunately…
September 30, 2025 at 2:13 AM
I usually say my favorite team is the Red Sox, and whoever’s playing the Yankees.
Fortunately…
Fortunately…
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
A book on accounting for transit called “Mind the GAAP”
September 29, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A book on accounting for transit called “Mind the GAAP”
I think it’s time for this pitch meeting at Esquire.
September 29, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I think it’s time for this pitch meeting at Esquire.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
Holy shit scorched earth motherfucker
September 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Holy shit scorched earth motherfucker
Anyway. Old man rants. I blame Jack Welch. (He said, reading THE MAN WHO BROKE CAPITALISM and OFFSHORE.)
September 15, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Anyway. Old man rants. I blame Jack Welch. (He said, reading THE MAN WHO BROKE CAPITALISM and OFFSHORE.)
Most importantly, the idea of service is gone. Used to be (and I feel all of 62, saying that), you looked for a better widget, or a better way of serving people, to make more money.
Now, you take the status quo, and look for ways to shave things off. Increase margin, or a product that’s a gusher.
Now, you take the status quo, and look for ways to shave things off. Increase margin, or a product that’s a gusher.
September 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Most importantly, the idea of service is gone. Used to be (and I feel all of 62, saying that), you looked for a better widget, or a better way of serving people, to make more money.
Now, you take the status quo, and look for ways to shave things off. Increase margin, or a product that’s a gusher.
Now, you take the status quo, and look for ways to shave things off. Increase margin, or a product that’s a gusher.
I can respect anarchists. It’s principled. (Think of Russell’s story, “And Then There Were None,” or Kropotkin.)
But Thiel and Vance and Musk aren’t like that. They just want to burn things down. They’ll make hand-waving gestures to Rand, but will throw her books on the pyre given half a chance.
But Thiel and Vance and Musk aren’t like that. They just want to burn things down. They’ll make hand-waving gestures to Rand, but will throw her books on the pyre given half a chance.
September 15, 2025 at 5:35 AM
I can respect anarchists. It’s principled. (Think of Russell’s story, “And Then There Were None,” or Kropotkin.)
But Thiel and Vance and Musk aren’t like that. They just want to burn things down. They’ll make hand-waving gestures to Rand, but will throw her books on the pyre given half a chance.
But Thiel and Vance and Musk aren’t like that. They just want to burn things down. They’ll make hand-waving gestures to Rand, but will throw her books on the pyre given half a chance.
The real split today isn’t ideological, left/right. It’s more psychological. Traditionalists vs arsonists. People who believe in the traditional roles of corporations serving customers, government serving citizens… and those who get positive joy from “disrupting“ and DOGE. 1/2
September 15, 2025 at 5:24 AM
The real split today isn’t ideological, left/right. It’s more psychological. Traditionalists vs arsonists. People who believe in the traditional roles of corporations serving customers, government serving citizens… and those who get positive joy from “disrupting“ and DOGE. 1/2