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
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
Although I’m willing to kick the can to Hayek.
Ayn Rand poisoned a lot of minds, for sure.
September 15, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Although I’m willing to kick the can to Hayek.
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. Loosely based on Bourdain’s book, with Bradley Cooper, Frank Langella, John Cho, Nicholas Brendon, et al. Yes, good female roles, but not by “names” the same way.
Everyone has a 1-2 season TV show they sorely miss and not enough people knew about that you are always praising the heavens about.
What's yours?
What's yours?
September 13, 2025 at 7:08 AM
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL. Loosely based on Bourdain’s book, with Bradley Cooper, Frank Langella, John Cho, Nicholas Brendon, et al. Yes, good female roles, but not by “names” the same way.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
To media, politicians and everyone else, your semi-regular reminder.
They don’t have to hack voting computers, or corrupt the count, or ballot-stuff, to “steal an election.”
Voter suppression is cheating.
And so is gerrymandering.
Stop normalizing them when you insist an election was “fair.”
They don’t have to hack voting computers, or corrupt the count, or ballot-stuff, to “steal an election.”
Voter suppression is cheating.
And so is gerrymandering.
Stop normalizing them when you insist an election was “fair.”
July 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
To media, politicians and everyone else, your semi-regular reminder.
They don’t have to hack voting computers, or corrupt the count, or ballot-stuff, to “steal an election.”
Voter suppression is cheating.
And so is gerrymandering.
Stop normalizing them when you insist an election was “fair.”
They don’t have to hack voting computers, or corrupt the count, or ballot-stuff, to “steal an election.”
Voter suppression is cheating.
And so is gerrymandering.
Stop normalizing them when you insist an election was “fair.”
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
Cardio and cardi b imply the existence of cardi c thru n.
July 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Cardio and cardi b imply the existence of cardi c thru n.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
Policy aside, it's very telling that Zohran's big endorsements are from ubiquitous celebrities under the age of 40 and Cuomo's endorsements are from politicians who peaked in 1998.
June 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Policy aside, it's very telling that Zohran's big endorsements are from ubiquitous celebrities under the age of 40 and Cuomo's endorsements are from politicians who peaked in 1998.
We attacked Iran because Bibi and Trump had a phone call. The Foreign Minister of Iran is going to Russia today.
It all feels fragile. We were reading THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH when perhaps we should have been reading THE GUNS OF AUGUST.
It all feels fragile. We were reading THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH when perhaps we should have been reading THE GUNS OF AUGUST.
June 23, 2025 at 4:59 AM
We attacked Iran because Bibi and Trump had a phone call. The Foreign Minister of Iran is going to Russia today.
It all feels fragile. We were reading THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH when perhaps we should have been reading THE GUNS OF AUGUST.
It all feels fragile. We were reading THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH when perhaps we should have been reading THE GUNS OF AUGUST.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
congress is more popular than this war and i don’t know any better way of describing just how unpopular it is
"Do you want America to be at war with Iran?"
No: 85%
Yes: 5%
YouGov / June 22, 2025
No: 85%
Yes: 5%
YouGov / June 22, 2025
June 23, 2025 at 3:22 AM
congress is more popular than this war and i don’t know any better way of describing just how unpopular it is
I keep being told Jack Dorsey isn’t involved much with Bluesky anymore. I’ll believe that when we can edit skeets. (Dorsey’s longstanding personal bête noir.)
June 18, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I keep being told Jack Dorsey isn’t involved much with Bluesky anymore. I’ll believe that when we can edit skeets. (Dorsey’s longstanding personal bête noir.)
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
GOP: Our budget will reduce the deficit
CBO: It'll increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion
GOP: But with greater growth, it'll pay for itself
CBO: Accounting for growth it's $2.3 trillion
GOP: ...
CBO: Also, more debt raises interest rates, so the true effect is $2.8 trillion.
CBO: It'll increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion
GOP: But with greater growth, it'll pay for itself
CBO: Accounting for growth it's $2.3 trillion
GOP: ...
CBO: Also, more debt raises interest rates, so the true effect is $2.8 trillion.
June 17, 2025 at 9:52 PM
GOP: Our budget will reduce the deficit
CBO: It'll increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion
GOP: But with greater growth, it'll pay for itself
CBO: Accounting for growth it's $2.3 trillion
GOP: ...
CBO: Also, more debt raises interest rates, so the true effect is $2.8 trillion.
CBO: It'll increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion
GOP: But with greater growth, it'll pay for itself
CBO: Accounting for growth it's $2.3 trillion
GOP: ...
CBO: Also, more debt raises interest rates, so the true effect is $2.8 trillion.
Reposted by Hal O’Brien
Daily duck tariff: the face of a boi who is finally getting used to getting pets from random kids
June 14, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Daily duck tariff: the face of a boi who is finally getting used to getting pets from random kids
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss too many euros goodbye…
June 14, 2025 at 11:57 PM
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll kiss too many euros goodbye…