Ben O'Connell
@benjaminoc.bsky.social
Dad, husband, promiscuous reader, former music geek, wannabe movie nerd, Montanan, NE DC Canine Knucklehead Ward co-founder, C-SPAN director of editorial operations
I enjoyed del Toro’s Frankenstein, but, dear lord, the CGI was distracting.
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I enjoyed del Toro’s Frankenstein, but, dear lord, the CGI was distracting.
Green’s book is a fascinating look at the early ‘80s NYC art scene. And he captures an array of cultural currents—the rising awareness of police violence, the heyday of tabloid journalism, and soon-to-be celebrities like Keith Haring, Basquiat, and Madonna—without the book feeling overstuffed.
If you've been on the fence about buying THE MAN NOBODY KILLED because it wasn't $5, well, I have good news. (It's $5.)
www.amazon.com/dp/125089822...
www.amazon.com/dp/125089822...
The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart's New York
The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart's New York [Green, Elon] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Man Nobody Killed: Life, Death, and Art in Michael Stewart's New York
www.amazon.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Green’s book is a fascinating look at the early ‘80s NYC art scene. And he captures an array of cultural currents—the rising awareness of police violence, the heyday of tabloid journalism, and soon-to-be celebrities like Keith Haring, Basquiat, and Madonna—without the book feeling overstuffed.
I spent the weekend driving to South Carolina and back, listening to the entire discographies of Nada Surf and Wussy. Both of their 2024 albums are excellent—maybe the strongest in over a decade by each band..
November 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I spent the weekend driving to South Carolina and back, listening to the entire discographies of Nada Surf and Wussy. Both of their 2024 albums are excellent—maybe the strongest in over a decade by each band..
My office for the afternoon
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
My office for the afternoon
My early thoughts on books to nominate for Cousin Book Club:
Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Basic Black with Pearls by Helen Weinzweig
The Premier by Georges Simenon
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Basic Black with Pearls by Helen Weinzweig
The Premier by Georges Simenon
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
November 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM
My early thoughts on books to nominate for Cousin Book Club:
Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Basic Black with Pearls by Helen Weinzweig
The Premier by Georges Simenon
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Mockingbird by Walter Tevis
Tram 83 by Fiston Mwanza Mujila
Prairie Fires by Caroline Fraser
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Basic Black with Pearls by Helen Weinzweig
The Premier by Georges Simenon
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Gang of Four—and, maybe, Mekons—fans will get the most out of TO HELL WITH POVERTY!, but Jon King’s razor-wire wit is occasionally awe-inspiring. The chapter in which King recalls Gang of Four’s first booking on Top of the Pops, in particular, is a virtuoso performance of clear-eyed absurdity.
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Gang of Four—and, maybe, Mekons—fans will get the most out of TO HELL WITH POVERTY!, but Jon King’s razor-wire wit is occasionally awe-inspiring. The chapter in which King recalls Gang of Four’s first booking on Top of the Pops, in particular, is a virtuoso performance of clear-eyed absurdity.
I would like to know whether the guy with the JISLORD license plate we just passed thought it through.
November 2, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I would like to know whether the guy with the JISLORD license plate we just passed thought it through.
My wife learning that she is of Italian descent: “It explains my love of pizza!”
November 1, 2025 at 11:06 PM
My wife learning that she is of Italian descent: “It explains my love of pizza!”
Catholic University librarians showed some colleagues and I amazing artifacts from their collections today. Their rare book holdings include a 1911 book of Oxford University statutes signed by its original owner, J.R.R. Tolkien, and two U.S. first printings of FRANKENSTEIN.
October 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Catholic University librarians showed some colleagues and I amazing artifacts from their collections today. Their rare book holdings include a 1911 book of Oxford University statutes signed by its original owner, J.R.R. Tolkien, and two U.S. first printings of FRANKENSTEIN.
An unknown force from a dark star leads to madness among the crew of IKARIE XB 1 as they search for life in the Alpha Centauri system. The 1963 movie scans more like an extended episode of a Czech STAR TREK than a predecessor to SUNSHINE, EVENT HORIZON, THE BLACK HOLE, or, even, SOLARIS. It’s fine.
October 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
An unknown force from a dark star leads to madness among the crew of IKARIE XB 1 as they search for life in the Alpha Centauri system. The 1963 movie scans more like an extended episode of a Czech STAR TREK than a predecessor to SUNSHINE, EVENT HORIZON, THE BLACK HOLE, or, even, SOLARIS. It’s fine.
Reposted by Ben O'Connell
Hüsker Dü were a pivotal band (for both good and bad reasons in my book tbh). Stevie Chick does the business here in this in-depth profile speaking to Bob Mould and Greg Norton about wide-eyed beginnings, drug-wracked endings, the reformation that almost happened, dealing out the first... 1/2
October 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Hüsker Dü were a pivotal band (for both good and bad reasons in my book tbh). Stevie Chick does the business here in this in-depth profile speaking to Bob Mould and Greg Norton about wide-eyed beginnings, drug-wracked endings, the reformation that almost happened, dealing out the first... 1/2
Great piece. Mould describes the CANDY APPLE GREY opener “Crystal” as “one of the most difficult pieces of music we ever made.” I read this as a challenge; I’ve not yet been able to find my way into that song.
damaging blow to hardcore's independence, but also paving the way for Pixies and, ultimately, Nirvana.
Pull up a pouffe... it's a great read.
thequietus.com/interviews/h...
Pull up a pouffe... it's a great read.
thequietus.com/interviews/h...
Plans That They Made: Hüsker Dü Interviewed | The Quietus
Stevie Chick talks to Bob Mould and Greg Norton about Grant Hart, American punk and paving the road for Nirvana
thequietus.com
October 28, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Great piece. Mould describes the CANDY APPLE GREY opener “Crystal” as “one of the most difficult pieces of music we ever made.” I read this as a challenge; I’ve not yet been able to find my way into that song.
THE HEART IN WINTER by Kevin Barry is funny, sad, crass, and lovely. And Barry’s prose has enough energy to power a small city. Highly recommended.
October 27, 2025 at 2:14 AM
THE HEART IN WINTER by Kevin Barry is funny, sad, crass, and lovely. And Barry’s prose has enough energy to power a small city. Highly recommended.
U.S. Marines have unsettling experiences after exploring the site of an Afghan-Soviet War–era massacre. John Milas’s THE MILITIA HOUSE is an excellent haunted house story and a vivid portrait of living with PTSD, but it’s Milas’s depiction of everyday life on the frontlines that held me in thrall.
October 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
U.S. Marines have unsettling experiences after exploring the site of an Afghan-Soviet War–era massacre. John Milas’s THE MILITIA HOUSE is an excellent haunted house story and a vivid portrait of living with PTSD, but it’s Milas’s depiction of everyday life on the frontlines that held me in thrall.
Had a chance to hit my local
October 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Had a chance to hit my local
The stretch from the windmill through the retrieval of the Necronomicon is brilliant—among the best 20 minutes of comedy made in the 1990s. The rest is pretty fun, too.
October 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The stretch from the windmill through the retrieval of the Necronomicon is brilliant—among the best 20 minutes of comedy made in the 1990s. The rest is pretty fun, too.
Checking in on an old friend as I wait to pick up Elder Kid from a concert
October 25, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Checking in on an old friend as I wait to pick up Elder Kid from a concert
I will let Bill Murray get away with anything, apparently
October 25, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I will let Bill Murray get away with anything, apparently
Georges Simenon’s THE CLOCKMAKER (trans. Norman Denny) is a great book if you want a pit in your stomach that becomes a chasm in the final pages. And Bertrand Tavernier's 1974 film adaptation, THE CLOCKMAKER OF ST. PAUL, is worth tracking down.
Some of Georges Simenon's best novels are his romans Américains, a baker's dozen surgical dissections of the American way of life in the 1950s -- most of them out of print, two of them never translated into English.
neglectedbooks.com/?...
neglectedbooks.com/?...
October 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Georges Simenon’s THE CLOCKMAKER (trans. Norman Denny) is a great book if you want a pit in your stomach that becomes a chasm in the final pages. And Bertrand Tavernier's 1974 film adaptation, THE CLOCKMAKER OF ST. PAUL, is worth tracking down.
Is BlueSky's search really this shitty or am I missing something?
October 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Is BlueSky's search really this shitty or am I missing something?
When you are too lazy to climb into a dog bed
October 23, 2025 at 1:09 AM
When you are too lazy to climb into a dog bed
The last time I bought tickets to see Sugar I was in college. Today, I bought tickets to a show that will take place a couple months before Elder Kid enters college.
October 23, 2025 at 12:33 AM
The last time I bought tickets to see Sugar I was in college. Today, I bought tickets to a show that will take place a couple months before Elder Kid enters college.
Anyone up for story time? It starts in a grimy underground garage…
October 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Anyone up for story time? It starts in a grimy underground garage…
C-SPAN debuted our latest series, America’s Book Club, last night. We shot the hour-long conversation between John Grisham and the host, David Rubenstein, in the Library of Congress’s spectacular Great Hall. You can find the full video here: www.c-span.org/americas-boo...
October 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
C-SPAN debuted our latest series, America’s Book Club, last night. We shot the hour-long conversation between John Grisham and the host, David Rubenstein, in the Library of Congress’s spectacular Great Hall. You can find the full video here: www.c-span.org/americas-boo...