Ben Parzybok
@sparkwatson.bsky.social
novelist (COUCH, SHERWOOD NATION), technologist, & maker of things https://levinofearth.com
Also:
Publisher at https://gumballpoetry.org, a tiny poetry journal out of a capsule machine, and https://plotopolis.com, which I'm not sure where that's going.
Also:
Publisher at https://gumballpoetry.org, a tiny poetry journal out of a capsule machine, and https://plotopolis.com, which I'm not sure where that's going.
Pinned
Ben Parzybok
@sparkwatson.bsky.social
· Mar 12
Benjamin Parzybok > Idle, Inc > Bourbon Penn
We were having an emergency. One of the time-servers crashed, and the support line was lighting up. And since my boss was on maternity leave, every one of those calls was mine to answer.
www.bourbonpenn.com
I have a new story in the fantastic journal Bourbon Penn.
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
Thanks Gavin!
If you read/comment mss on phone/ipad check out marginalist.app from @sparkwatson.bsky.social
"very comfortable reading, & commenting on, manuscripts.... As of now: It imports MS Word files, and exports those same files (with your Marginalist comments) with all formatting intact."
No AI, of course
"very comfortable reading, & commenting on, manuscripts.... As of now: It imports MS Word files, and exports those same files (with your Marginalist comments) with all formatting intact."
No AI, of course
Marginalist - Manuscript Reading & Annotation for iOS
Read manuscripts. Add feedback. Export to Word. A focused manuscript reader for editors, agents, and publishers.
marginalist.app
November 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Thanks Gavin!
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Enshittification! Not just for tech corporations anymore. My roundup of the shitbomb video, wrecking of the White House, Trump's deterioration, and broader destruction at:
This Wreckage Courtesy of the Enshittification Administration: Notes On Late-State Trumpism
In 2022, the tech critic and privacy advocate Cory Doctorow coined the term enshittification to describe what's happened on the Internet to a lot of the most widely used platforms: Google, Amazon, Fac...
www.meditationsinanemergency.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Enshittification! Not just for tech corporations anymore. My roundup of the shitbomb video, wrecking of the White House, Trump's deterioration, and broader destruction at:
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
The war zone in Portland is out of control.
October 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
The war zone in Portland is out of control.
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Can't go on like this
September 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Can't go on like this
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Andry José Hernández Romero, I remember you, even if I do not know how to articulate my horror, rage, & sorrow at your treatment by my government.
No one has heard from you in 53 days.
As vigil, I’m posting a photo of you every day until you are returned from El Salvador.
No one has heard from you in 53 days.
As vigil, I’m posting a photo of you every day until you are returned from El Salvador.
May 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Andry José Hernández Romero, I remember you, even if I do not know how to articulate my horror, rage, & sorrow at your treatment by my government.
No one has heard from you in 53 days.
As vigil, I’m posting a photo of you every day until you are returned from El Salvador.
No one has heard from you in 53 days.
As vigil, I’m posting a photo of you every day until you are returned from El Salvador.
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Congratulations to past BTC guests Percival Everett for winning the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and Danez Smith for being a finalist in Poetry!
ICYMI, here are the conversations with each of them:
Percival: tinhouse.com/podcast/perc...
Danez: tinhouse.com/podcast/dane...
@graywolfpress.bsky.social
ICYMI, here are the conversations with each of them:
Percival: tinhouse.com/podcast/perc...
Danez: tinhouse.com/podcast/dane...
@graywolfpress.bsky.social
May 5, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Congratulations to past BTC guests Percival Everett for winning the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction and Danez Smith for being a finalist in Poetry!
ICYMI, here are the conversations with each of them:
Percival: tinhouse.com/podcast/perc...
Danez: tinhouse.com/podcast/dane...
@graywolfpress.bsky.social
ICYMI, here are the conversations with each of them:
Percival: tinhouse.com/podcast/perc...
Danez: tinhouse.com/podcast/dane...
@graywolfpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
History always has a lesson.
April 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
History always has a lesson.
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
April 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I invented a new phone to help save time in the morning
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
MMR vaccine doesn’t just prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. It also prevents RFK Jr. from showing up at your child’s funeral to exploit your grief at your most vulnerable moment.
April 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
MMR vaccine doesn’t just prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. It also prevents RFK Jr. from showing up at your child’s funeral to exploit your grief at your most vulnerable moment.
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
Thousands of protesters gathered at the Japanese American Historical Plaza on Portland’s waterfront before they started marching south down Naito Parkway onto the Morrison Bridge.
#HandsOff protest live updates: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
#HandsOff protest live updates: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
April 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Thousands of protesters gathered at the Japanese American Historical Plaza on Portland’s waterfront before they started marching south down Naito Parkway onto the Morrison Bridge.
#HandsOff protest live updates: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
#HandsOff protest live updates: www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Laura made a sign for the protests in Portland
April 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Laura made a sign for the protests in Portland
Thank you!
Just finished @sparkwatson.bsky.social 's story "Idle, Inc." in issue 35 of @bourbonpenn.bsky.social and, oh my. What a story to sneak and read first thing on a Monday morning after logging into work. Chilling and so immediate and vivid! I couldn't put it down.
March 31, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Thank you!
Two of my books and two short stories got eaten by the AI borg.
IF YOU FOUND YOUR NOVEL IN THE LIBGEN DATABASE, YOU MAY BE A CLASS MEMBER FOR THE KADREY ET AL V. META PLATFORMS CLASS ACTION
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com
Law firms you can contact if you're a potential class member:
Joseph Saveri Law Firm, LLP (415) 500-6800
Mathew Butterick (323) 968-2632 mb@buttericklaw.com
March 21, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Two of my books and two short stories got eaten by the AI borg.
My month in Istanbul/Turkey was incredible. Thank you Türkiye, I’m sad to go! I hope you can navigate the politics and tendencies toward fascism. I know I was taking lessons from it. This was last night at the Metropolitan Municipality Authority. #imamoglu
March 21, 2025 at 10:04 AM
My month in Istanbul/Turkey was incredible. Thank you Türkiye, I’m sad to go! I hope you can navigate the politics and tendencies toward fascism. I know I was taking lessons from it. This was last night at the Metropolitan Municipality Authority. #imamoglu
I have a new story in the fantastic journal Bourbon Penn.
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
Benjamin Parzybok > Idle, Inc > Bourbon Penn
We were having an emergency. One of the time-servers crashed, and the support line was lighting up. And since my boss was on maternity leave, every one of those calls was mine to answer.
www.bourbonpenn.com
March 12, 2025 at 6:24 AM
I have a new story in the fantastic journal Bourbon Penn.
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
“at first it was cool i guess, 15 mins extra free time a day, like magic. nap time! But after like 900 crashes i can honestly say this is by far the worst app I have ever used in my entire life bar none”
www.bourbonpenn.com/issue/35/idl...
Thrilled to be in this issue of Bourbon Penn.
Bourbon Penn 35 is live with brand new stories by Benjamin Parzybok, Steve Toase, Margaret Roach, Josh Pearce, Gretchen Tessmer, Andrew Zhou, and Jennifer Hykes.
@sparkwatson.bsky.social @stevetoase.bsky.social @margaretroach.bsky.social @fictionaljosh.bsky.social
@sparkwatson.bsky.social @stevetoase.bsky.social @margaretroach.bsky.social @fictionaljosh.bsky.social
Bourbon Penn 35
Stories by Benjamin Parzybok, Steve Toase, Margaret Roach, Josh Pearce, Gretchen Tessmer, Andrew Zhou, and Jennifer Hykes. Cover art by Lisa Lach-Nielsen.
www.bourbonpenn.com
March 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Thrilled to be in this issue of Bourbon Penn.
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
February 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
..your writing. We're talking about your writing.
Current events got you feeling inspired, for better or worse? Yeah. Us too.
We're always looking for #submissions of most any kind (especially zines!), but especially #writing about... (1/3)
Current events got you feeling inspired, for better or worse? Yeah. Us too.
We're always looking for #submissions of most any kind (especially zines!), but especially #writing about... (1/3)
November 13, 2024 at 6:09 PM
..your writing. We're talking about your writing.
Current events got you feeling inspired, for better or worse? Yeah. Us too.
We're always looking for #submissions of most any kind (especially zines!), but especially #writing about... (1/3)
Current events got you feeling inspired, for better or worse? Yeah. Us too.
We're always looking for #submissions of most any kind (especially zines!), but especially #writing about... (1/3)
Reposted by Ben Parzybok
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 Ben Parzybok
