Terrence O'Brien
@terrenceobrien.bsky.social
Verge weekend editor. MusicTech contributor. Former Engadget, Wired & Switched. Musician. Serial hobbyist.
https://linktr.ee/terrenceobrien
https://linktr.ee/terrenceobrien
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
#3 of our free daily articles from @terrenceobrien.bsky.social:
OpenAI's Head of Preparedness will be responsible for issues around mental health, cybersecurity, and runaway AI.
OpenAI's Head of Preparedness will be responsible for issues around mental health, cybersecurity, and runaway AI.
Sam Altman is hiring someone to worry about the dangers of AI
Sam Altman is hiring a Head of Preparedness at OpenAI to worry about the dangers of AI.
www.theverge.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
#3 of our free daily articles from @terrenceobrien.bsky.social:
OpenAI's Head of Preparedness will be responsible for issues around mental health, cybersecurity, and runaway AI.
OpenAI's Head of Preparedness will be responsible for issues around mental health, cybersecurity, and runaway AI.
There's something so satisfying about taking one of Lovecraft's most explicitly racist and xenophobic stories and flipping it on its head.
You need to read the subversive cosmic horror novella The Ballad of Black Tom
You need to read the subversive cosmic horror novella The Ballad of Black Tom
The Ballad of Black Tom is a subversive, anti-racist take on Lovecraftian horror from Victor LaValle.
buff.ly
December 28, 2025 at 8:06 PM
There's something so satisfying about taking one of Lovecraft's most explicitly racist and xenophobic stories and flipping it on its head.
My original headline:
OpenAI is hiring a head of "oh god, what have we done?"
OpenAI is hiring a head of "oh god, what have we done?"
Sam Altman is hiring someone to worry about the dangers of AI
Sam Altman is hiring someone to worry about the dangers of AI
Sam Altman is hiring a Head of Preparedness at OpenAI to worry about the dangers of AI.
buff.ly
December 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
My original headline:
OpenAI is hiring a head of "oh god, what have we done?"
OpenAI is hiring a head of "oh god, what have we done?"
We've been so worried about robots taking our jobs or gaining sentience and starting nuclear wars we didn't even consider the humble groin kick.
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We've been so worried about robots taking our jobs or gaining sentience and starting nuclear wars we didn't even consider the humble groin kick.
Pitch for a show: Hoarders, but with billionaires.
We hire mental health professionals and financial experts to go and convince people to part ways with their unhealthy piles of money.
We hire mental health professionals and financial experts to go and convince people to part ways with their unhealthy piles of money.
December 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Pitch for a show: Hoarders, but with billionaires.
We hire mental health professionals and financial experts to go and convince people to part ways with their unhealthy piles of money.
We hire mental health professionals and financial experts to go and convince people to part ways with their unhealthy piles of money.
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
This is such a misleading headline. What the article actually says is: The wealthy are doing great. The military spent a bunch of money and corporations are raking in record profits. Average Americans saw no improvement. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/b...
U.S. Economic Growth Surged in Third Quarter of 2025
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
This is such a misleading headline. What the article actually says is: The wealthy are doing great. The military spent a bunch of money and corporations are raking in record profits. Average Americans saw no improvement. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/b...
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
December 22, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is 404 Media's @jasonkoebler.bsky.social waving at himself through a Flock camera; one of 60 we learned was left exposed to the open internet. Not only could anyone with a link livestream it, but some admin portals were open with no login credentials required.
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
www.404media.co/flock-expose...
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Weiss won't be happy until she's torched the credibility of the entire organization. This is only the beginning, I'm sure.
CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi to the NYT on her CECOT segment getting pulled from 60 Minutes: “I refer all questions to Bari Weiss.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/21/b...
‘60 Minutes’ Pulled a Segment. A Correspondent Calls It ‘Political.’
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Weiss won't be happy until she's torched the credibility of the entire organization. This is only the beginning, I'm sure.
Did you know that I host a show on @makerparkradio.bsky.social?
Here's the playlists from the last few episodes:
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...
Here's the playlists from the last few episodes:
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...
Algorhythmless 12/10/2025 by Terrence O'Brien on Apple Music
Playlist · 30 Songs
music.apple.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Did you know that I host a show on @makerparkradio.bsky.social?
Here's the playlists from the last few episodes:
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...
Here's the playlists from the last few episodes:
music.apple.com/us/playlist/...
I love Last Christmas as much as the next guy, but your holiday playlist is in need of a refresh.
You need to listen to these Christmas deep cuts
You need to listen to these Christmas deep cuts
Here are 10 Christmas song deep cuts to freshen up your holiday playlist.
buff.ly
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I love Last Christmas as much as the next guy, but your holiday playlist is in need of a refresh.
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
the extremely rare phenomenon of the “Threads banger”
@timduffy.bsky.social
@timduffy.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 1:55 AM
the extremely rare phenomenon of the “Threads banger”
@timduffy.bsky.social
@timduffy.bsky.social
This sucks. I've seen so many incredible shows at Music Hall and Northsix, before that.
Music Hall Of Williamsburg, a key Brooklyn venue over the last two decades, is closing
Brooklyn's Music Hall Of Williamsburg Is Closing
The Music Hall Of Williamsburg is an important Brooklyn music venue that’s been open for decades, and it’s been a staple for any New York music fans this century, but its days are numbered. The venue’...
stereogum.com
December 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This sucks. I've seen so many incredible shows at Music Hall and Northsix, before that.
I am obsessed with weird minimalist / retro projects like this. What would I do with it? I don't know, but it's rad looking.
www.typeframe.net/docs/px-88
www.typeframe.net/docs/px-88
Typeframe PX-88 | Typeframe
The PX-88 is a portable-ish computer inspired by the Epson PX-4. The goal was to create a writerdeck that could be used with modern web-based editors.
www.typeframe.net
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I am obsessed with weird minimalist / retro projects like this. What would I do with it? I don't know, but it's rad looking.
www.typeframe.net/docs/px-88
www.typeframe.net/docs/px-88
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is ‘slop’
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is ‘slop’
The year of slop.
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year is ‘slop’
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
Just in case any journalist or editor reading this is tempted to minimize Trump's Reiner post because it's a "showbiz thing" and "real" stories are happening: No. It's a President thing and a decency thing, and if you don't understand that those things are newsworthy, you are failing in your duties.
December 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Just in case any journalist or editor reading this is tempted to minimize Trump's Reiner post because it's a "showbiz thing" and "real" stories are happening: No. It's a President thing and a decency thing, and if you don't understand that those things are newsworthy, you are failing in your duties.
I... I just fucking can't.
Whatever apocalypse awaits us... climate? meteor? nuclear?
It can't come fast enough.
Whatever apocalypse awaits us... climate? meteor? nuclear?
It can't come fast enough.
December 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I... I just fucking can't.
Whatever apocalypse awaits us... climate? meteor? nuclear?
It can't come fast enough.
Whatever apocalypse awaits us... climate? meteor? nuclear?
It can't come fast enough.
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
Musicians are getting really tired of this AI clone ‘bullshit’
Musicians are getting really tired of this AI clone ‘bullshit’
‘What a mess.’
buff.ly
December 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Musicians are getting really tired of this AI clone ‘bullshit’
One of the most frustrating things about the democratic party is how quickly they've embraced anti-intellectualism. Being the party of the "factory floor" and the party of the "faculty lounge" are not mutually exclusive.
Here's something I wish these fools would think about: What does it mean to be in the faculty lounge in 2025? Really. What does that mean?
i am once again asking who the "leftist extremists in the faculty lounge" shaping democratic party priorities are, and what policies it is that they are instituting
December 15, 2025 at 12:58 AM
One of the most frustrating things about the democratic party is how quickly they've embraced anti-intellectualism. Being the party of the "factory floor" and the party of the "faculty lounge" are not mutually exclusive.
Decided to talk about my favorite album of the year this weekend: The dense and delightfully chaotic Sudan Archives record The BPM. It's got everything from trap high-hats, to house piano stabs, and Irish jigs. What more could you ask for?
You need to listen to Sudan Archives’ violin opus for the club
You need to listen to Sudan Archives’ violin opus for the club
Sudan Archives’ The BPM is a dense and unpredictable tour of dance music through the ages.
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Decided to talk about my favorite album of the year this weekend: The dense and delightfully chaotic Sudan Archives record The BPM. It's got everything from trap high-hats, to house piano stabs, and Irish jigs. What more could you ask for?
Reposted by Terrence O'Brien
Absynth is back and weirder than ever after 16 years
Absynth is back and weirder than ever after 16 years
Native Instruments revives the cult-classic Absynth with MPE and new presets from Brian Eno and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.
buff.ly
December 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Absynth is back and weirder than ever after 16 years
The combination of the Nuphy Air60 and the Boox Palma 2 have become my goto distraction-free writing setup.
Perfect for quiet nights behind the bar.
Perfect for quiet nights behind the bar.
The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard
The best thing I bought this year: a portable mechanical keyboard
A distraction-free writing setup.
buff.ly
December 13, 2025 at 7:37 PM
The combination of the Nuphy Air60 and the Boox Palma 2 have become my goto distraction-free writing setup.
Perfect for quiet nights behind the bar.
Perfect for quiet nights behind the bar.