Mike Barthel
@mikebarthelauthor.com
Writer/critic/researcher/musician in DC. Fiction lotsa places. Writing a speculative novel and a book for DUP “Singles” about “Party in the USA.” mikebarthelauthor.com
Making music as APOPHRA https://apophra.bandcamp.com/
Making music as APOPHRA https://apophra.bandcamp.com/
It turns out that the Maurice Sendak books my mother in law sent us for the kids are first editions, which we did not know and probably should have. But probably Sendak would be happy that a first edition of In the Night Kitchen spent so much time in my kids’ beds.
January 14, 2026 at 2:03 AM
It turns out that the Maurice Sendak books my mother in law sent us for the kids are first editions, which we did not know and probably should have. But probably Sendak would be happy that a first edition of In the Night Kitchen spent so much time in my kids’ beds.
Rushmore
we often talk about “what anime would you adapt into a movie” but here is a reverse: what movies would you adapt into an anime?
January 13, 2026 at 4:38 AM
Rushmore
BOY TWIN: I’m gonna [inaudible]
ME: What’s that, bud?
BT: I’m gonna headbutt daddy
ME: You’re gonna what?
BT: [runs toward me headfirst]
ME: Oh
ME: What’s that, bud?
BT: I’m gonna headbutt daddy
ME: You’re gonna what?
BT: [runs toward me headfirst]
ME: Oh
January 12, 2026 at 11:29 PM
BOY TWIN: I’m gonna [inaudible]
ME: What’s that, bud?
BT: I’m gonna headbutt daddy
ME: You’re gonna what?
BT: [runs toward me headfirst]
ME: Oh
ME: What’s that, bud?
BT: I’m gonna headbutt daddy
ME: You’re gonna what?
BT: [runs toward me headfirst]
ME: Oh
The beautiful thing about “Gay Dad” as a band name is that it could have been the nadir of almost any anglophone rock scene in the last 30 years.
January 12, 2026 at 9:02 PM
The beautiful thing about “Gay Dad” as a band name is that it could have been the nadir of almost any anglophone rock scene in the last 30 years.
The Mohawk, though in terms of “nearest flowing body of water to my house” it’s Oriskany Creek (unless you count the Erie Canal).
My favorite Twitter prompt was "RT this with your home river," so reskeet this with your home river.
Mine is the Patuxent.
Mine is the Patuxent.
January 12, 2026 at 8:59 PM
The Mohawk, though in terms of “nearest flowing body of water to my house” it’s Oriskany Creek (unless you count the Erie Canal).
Reposted by Mike Barthel
"@kirinmcelwain.bsky.social's exploratory album 'Youth' turns toward crystalline feedback, chaotic oscillators, and intentionally harsh tones to express the feelings of desire and shame occupying the same cognitive space." - @thetonearm.com
www.thetonearm.com/kirin-mcelwa...
www.thetonearm.com/kirin-mcelwa...
Kirin McElwain: Harsh Tones and 'Youth' | The Tonearm
Cellist Kirin McElwain's exploratory album 'Youth' turns toward crystalline feedback, chaotic oscillators, and intentionally harsh tones to express the feelings of desire and shame occupying the same ...
www.thetonearm.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:25 PM
"@kirinmcelwain.bsky.social's exploratory album 'Youth' turns toward crystalline feedback, chaotic oscillators, and intentionally harsh tones to express the feelings of desire and shame occupying the same cognitive space." - @thetonearm.com
www.thetonearm.com/kirin-mcelwa...
www.thetonearm.com/kirin-mcelwa...
I didn’t appreciate the title “One Battle After Each Other” at the time (since it’s Not Vineland) but now I like that it’s not The Last Battle or The Most Important Battle or The Battle For Everything. Battles are going to keep happening!
January 11, 2026 at 5:28 PM
I didn’t appreciate the title “One Battle After Each Other” at the time (since it’s Not Vineland) but now I like that it’s not The Last Battle or The Most Important Battle or The Battle For Everything. Battles are going to keep happening!
Reposted by Mike Barthel
An incredibly evocative piece of writing from @jeremygordon.bsky.social about a terrible, ecstatic moment
There's a star man, waiting in the sky
Subjects discussed: David Bowie, Andre Agassi, Marty Supreme
jeremygordon.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM
An incredibly evocative piece of writing from @jeremygordon.bsky.social about a terrible, ecstatic moment
The venue where I saw my first concert, and the act. www.setlist.fm/setlist/bb-k...
January 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM
The venue where I saw my first concert, and the act. www.setlist.fm/setlist/bb-k...
Feeling distressingly compelled to write something about why I like Geese so much.
January 11, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Feeling distressingly compelled to write something about why I like Geese so much.
Reposted by Mike Barthel
Watching doc about resilience that reaffirms many changes I made last few years to my mental outlook (I read a LOT of brain books). Brains are hallucination engines. If the story is the world is shit, everything is fucked, brain reframes every interaction this way. It impacts behavior; shuts us down
January 11, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Watching doc about resilience that reaffirms many changes I made last few years to my mental outlook (I read a LOT of brain books). Brains are hallucination engines. If the story is the world is shit, everything is fucked, brain reframes every interaction this way. It impacts behavior; shuts us down
Had the twins’ fifth birthday today, here’s how boy twin spent about half of it.
January 11, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Had the twins’ fifth birthday today, here’s how boy twin spent about half of it.
Our knockoff K-pop demon hunter bags have a distinctly Jen and the holograms vibe to them.
January 10, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Our knockoff K-pop demon hunter bags have a distinctly Jen and the holograms vibe to them.
This one has an Aura for me youtu.be/x9UV58U9DyU?...
The Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word (1982 Version)
YouTube video by My Ideal Playlist
youtu.be
January 10, 2026 at 4:43 AM
This one has an Aura for me youtu.be/x9UV58U9DyU?...
The drum solo here is BANANAS
January 10, 2026 at 3:39 AM
The drum solo here is BANANAS
Reposted by Mike Barthel
Nutz Deep II North
Spencer, WI
Spencer, WI
January 10, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Nutz Deep II North
Spencer, WI
Spencer, WI
Saw someone say they didn’t respect Prince because he wouldn’t authorize a Weird Al parody and had my strongest “we need to bring back bullying” flash in a while.
January 10, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Saw someone say they didn’t respect Prince because he wouldn’t authorize a Weird Al parody and had my strongest “we need to bring back bullying” flash in a while.
Is there an established Harry Potter replacement for elementary schoolers? We’ve had the “we don’t support this person” convo, but I need a guaranteed hit to read instead. The subject in question is very into Dog Man, 13 Story Treehouse, and science books.
January 9, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Is there an established Harry Potter replacement for elementary schoolers? We’ve had the “we don’t support this person” convo, but I need a guaranteed hit to read instead. The subject in question is very into Dog Man, 13 Story Treehouse, and science books.
I’m unsure about the value of media literacy education, but I’m 100% certain that the schools need to teach etiquette courses on how to be polite on the internet.
January 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
I’m unsure about the value of media literacy education, but I’m 100% certain that the schools need to teach etiquette courses on how to be polite on the internet.
Reposted by Mike Barthel
BONK'S REVENGE
RED COMPANY CORP 1991
TURBOGRAFX-16
RED COMPANY CORP 1991
TURBOGRAFX-16
October 14, 2025 at 11:06 PM
BONK'S REVENGE
RED COMPANY CORP 1991
TURBOGRAFX-16
RED COMPANY CORP 1991
TURBOGRAFX-16
Many questions here
January 9, 2026 at 5:06 AM
Many questions here
Reposted by Mike Barthel
Like 12 years ago my friend sent me this picture from his work and it immediately, permanently changed the name of this utensil in my head. The bytes were fully overwritten. I don’t remember the former name of this item and frankly I don’t care
January 9, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Like 12 years ago my friend sent me this picture from his work and it immediately, permanently changed the name of this utensil in my head. The bytes were fully overwritten. I don’t remember the former name of this item and frankly I don’t care
If you’re stressed out by the news, I assume the idea of not following the news makes you more stressed out, but also: you know that thing about how you need the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference?
January 9, 2026 at 3:58 AM
If you’re stressed out by the news, I assume the idea of not following the news makes you more stressed out, but also: you know that thing about how you need the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference?
The twins’ classmate brought bracelets back from her winter break trip for the whole class. She decorated them with a reference to the class’ name, the “ice cream pandas,” which is very cute but also has somewhat unfortunate initials.
January 8, 2026 at 11:55 PM
The twins’ classmate brought bracelets back from her winter break trip for the whole class. She decorated them with a reference to the class’ name, the “ice cream pandas,” which is very cute but also has somewhat unfortunate initials.