Benjamin Boles
@benjaminboles.bsky.social
I cut hair and sometimes make music. Retired music journalist.
He/they
Toronto
https://on.soundcloud.com/z1Wx4
He/they
Toronto
https://on.soundcloud.com/z1Wx4
Pinned
Benjamin Boles
@benjaminboles.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Ambient Heat
Stream Ambient Heat by benjamin boles on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.
m.soundcloud.com
A few months ago I decided to try making some electronic music at a much slower tempo than I’d ever worked with before. Here’s the result of those 76bpm experiments:
m.soundcloud.com/benjamin-bol...
m.soundcloud.com/benjamin-bol...
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
“Deregulation with socialist branding” is no-sarcasm the most fascinating political development of the last decade. Will this work? Fuck if I know but I’m entranced.
January 2, 2026 at 12:28 AM
“Deregulation with socialist branding” is no-sarcasm the most fascinating political development of the last decade. Will this work? Fuck if I know but I’m entranced.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
i am losing my mind over this listing that staged a condemned philly trap house with AI
December 31, 2025 at 2:40 PM
i am losing my mind over this listing that staged a condemned philly trap house with AI
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Kevin Drum was the first journalist to really get into the ties between lead and crime rates (not just serial killers) and I think it is one of the most important articles we’ve ever done www.motherjones.com/environment/...
January 1, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Kevin Drum was the first journalist to really get into the ties between lead and crime rates (not just serial killers) and I think it is one of the most important articles we’ve ever done www.motherjones.com/environment/...
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
I think a lot about this quote from Anaïs Nin’s diary from 1939-1944:
“America is in even greater danger because of its cult of toughness, its hatred of sensitivity, and someday it may have to pay a price for this, because atrophy of feeling creates criminals”.
“America is in even greater danger because of its cult of toughness, its hatred of sensitivity, and someday it may have to pay a price for this, because atrophy of feeling creates criminals”.
December 19, 2024 at 2:31 AM
I think a lot about this quote from Anaïs Nin’s diary from 1939-1944:
“America is in even greater danger because of its cult of toughness, its hatred of sensitivity, and someday it may have to pay a price for this, because atrophy of feeling creates criminals”.
“America is in even greater danger because of its cult of toughness, its hatred of sensitivity, and someday it may have to pay a price for this, because atrophy of feeling creates criminals”.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
They gentrified the tinfoil hat
January 1, 2026 at 8:57 PM
They gentrified the tinfoil hat
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
January 1, 2026 at 11:07 PM
I was wondering what Mamdani's first executive order would be, and I'm not disappointed by this.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
He has wiped off the books EVERY Eric Adams executive order issued on or after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
just wanted to let everyone know that “spearmint milk” is a thing in western australia. thought you deserved to hear it from me.
January 1, 2026 at 6:42 PM
just wanted to let everyone know that “spearmint milk” is a thing in western australia. thought you deserved to hear it from me.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
What's the matter, babe? You've barely touched your jacket pickles
January 1, 2026 at 5:19 PM
What's the matter, babe? You've barely touched your jacket pickles
This is actually one of Trump’s smarter moves. The best thing at McD’s is a junior chicken stuffed inside a double cheeseburger (sometimes known as the Mc Gangbang)
The WSJ version of this actually omits the funniest part: he mashes his orders together before eating them! www.huffpost.com/entry/donald...
January 1, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This is actually one of Trump’s smarter moves. The best thing at McD’s is a junior chicken stuffed inside a double cheeseburger (sometimes known as the Mc Gangbang)
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
More bugs should have "bumble" variants
August 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
More bugs should have "bumble" variants
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Nobody thinks a guy doing the YMCA in a frog costume on a city sidewalk is a credible threat to public safety AND Oregon lawyers were able to leverage that perception to discredit the argument that Portland needed immediate federal intervention. Both tactics work in tandem to reinforce the other.
So, the frog stopped the National Guard from coming to Portland, along with astute lawsuits by Oregon. Only part of what's happening, but hard to understate how fundamentally the Portland Frog changed perceptions and helped morale. Humor, imagination, courage, savvy.
December 31, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Nobody thinks a guy doing the YMCA in a frog costume on a city sidewalk is a credible threat to public safety AND Oregon lawyers were able to leverage that perception to discredit the argument that Portland needed immediate federal intervention. Both tactics work in tandem to reinforce the other.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
i want to play the boombass and bring it to dances and parties (where it's great)
January 1, 2026 at 2:37 AM
i want to play the boombass and bring it to dances and parties (where it's great)
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
As the year end draws near remember this.
December 31, 2025 at 11:52 PM
As the year end draws near remember this.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Nardwuar absolutely deserves this
December 31, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Nardwuar absolutely deserves this
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
The fact that the very first VU review ever in print is from a column called “Teen Talk” and the headline is “Blobs and Blurbs” is providing me with the delighted, peaceful feeling I require to walk into 2026 with.
December 31, 2025 at 10:29 PM
The fact that the very first VU review ever in print is from a column called “Teen Talk” and the headline is “Blobs and Blurbs” is providing me with the delighted, peaceful feeling I require to walk into 2026 with.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Here's another one I like. This one's from Sam Morril:
December 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Here's another one I like. This one's from Sam Morril:
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Elon Musk promised a lot of things by 2025
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
Everything Elon Musk promised in 2025, but didn't deliver
Musk is now infamous for his false promises, but even this is excessive.
mashable.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Elon Musk promised a lot of things by 2025
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
- colonists arriving on Mars
- xAI achieving AGI
- Tesla robotaxis serving half the U.S.
- completely driverless robotaxis
- a Tesla Roadster demo
- DOGE cutting trillions
none of them happened
mashable.com/article/elon-mus...
Nardwuar is on Bluesky!
I am honoured to announce I’ve been appointed as a member to the Order of Canada. Thank you to everyone for the support! I dedicate this to my late Mom who taught me so much about history, local independent media & research. I know that she would be, like me, screaming with joy! #orderofcanada
December 31, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Nardwuar is on Bluesky!
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Fuck your eyes in particular
December 31, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Fuck your eyes in particular
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
One of the best to ever do it
December 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
One of the best to ever do it
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Maybe 15 years ago I was in Western Massachusetts with a partner who wanted to check out the Norman Rockwell Museum. I only knew of Rockwell as 1950s kitsch and had low expectations. As it happened, we showed up while an exhibit on Rockwell's Civil Rights legacy was on display. Blew my mind.
"Norman Rockwell was antifa," his granddaughter says. (Fact check: literally true.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
www.thebulwark.com/p/norman-roc...
The MAGAfication of Norman Rockwell
Trump uses the artist’s work—like other cultural icons—to promote Gestapo tactics and nativist ideas.
www.thebulwark.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Maybe 15 years ago I was in Western Massachusetts with a partner who wanted to check out the Norman Rockwell Museum. I only knew of Rockwell as 1950s kitsch and had low expectations. As it happened, we showed up while an exhibit on Rockwell's Civil Rights legacy was on display. Blew my mind.