Wayne O'Cohen / 上野公園
@wayneocohen.bsky.social
Maryland native, adopted New Jerseyan, current Tokyoite whose heart's in Hong Kong. Syracuse grad; postgrad at Gutenberg Universität Mainz. Entertainment writer formerly of Japan's Mainichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun. Interests: Media biz, Asian history
Pinned
I've updated the lists of accounts I follow, adding 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗨𝗦 / 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 & 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀, which focuses on outlets outside of the 3 Mid-Atlantic states I've called home. There's a separate list for 𝗡𝗝 / 𝗡𝗬 / 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱. Also new is 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 / 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 / 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱, still very much a grab bag.
Still adding & tweaking my topic-specific curation lists. New is 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗺 / 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 / 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, which covers all kinds of activism & will need to be subdivided. Tweaked 2 lists, now called 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 / 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 / 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 and 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 / 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 / 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 / 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹.
bsky.app/profile/wayn...
bsky.app/profile/wayn...
Reposted by Wayne O'Cohen / 上野公園
Oooops almost missed our 1st #WorldPublicTransport day! Reminder:
without #railways we would not have opened continental interiors; moved #freight for Industrial Revolution; built #streetcars that made suburbs; dug #subways that crossed cities, ran #buses that gave #mobility to those without cars.
without #railways we would not have opened continental interiors; moved #freight for Industrial Revolution; built #streetcars that made suburbs; dug #subways that crossed cities, ran #buses that gave #mobility to those without cars.
April 18, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Oooops almost missed our 1st #WorldPublicTransport day! Reminder:
without #railways we would not have opened continental interiors; moved #freight for Industrial Revolution; built #streetcars that made suburbs; dug #subways that crossed cities, ran #buses that gave #mobility to those without cars.
without #railways we would not have opened continental interiors; moved #freight for Industrial Revolution; built #streetcars that made suburbs; dug #subways that crossed cities, ran #buses that gave #mobility to those without cars.
Despite public support & appeals to the 1st Amendment, the library board wasn't swayed, caving to those who deem the books "perverse" & "satanic."
James: "Public libraries are community forums, serving the entire community, not just those who share the loudest voice or the most restrictive views."
James: "Public libraries are community forums, serving the entire community, not just those who share the loudest voice or the most restrictive views."
RUTHERFORD COUNTY: “library director Luanne James fired for refusing to relocate 132 children’s books to the adult section…. The board deemed the books inappropriate, citing LGBTQ+ themes, female empowerment, diversity, witches, social justice...” www.dnj.com/story/news/2...
April 5, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Despite public support & appeals to the 1st Amendment, the library board wasn't swayed, caving to those who deem the books "perverse" & "satanic."
James: "Public libraries are community forums, serving the entire community, not just those who share the loudest voice or the most restrictive views."
James: "Public libraries are community forums, serving the entire community, not just those who share the loudest voice or the most restrictive views."
What a great idea! I had no idea that shopping mall Easter Bunnies were still around. And, yes, that cottontail is where Peter's peter ought to be. The Alt Text notes that the human inside the rabbit is a sullen American teen. Perhaps the wardrobe malfunction is an act of defiance.
The time I took our dog to meet the Easter Bunny.
On close inspection, the Bunny has his trousers on back to front.
On close inspection, the Bunny has his trousers on back to front.
April 4, 2026 at 8:36 AM
What a great idea! I had no idea that shopping mall Easter Bunnies were still around. And, yes, that cottontail is where Peter's peter ought to be. The Alt Text notes that the human inside the rabbit is a sullen American teen. Perhaps the wardrobe malfunction is an act of defiance.
Here's a heads-up to history buffs, policy wonks and politics junkies. Wanna read? Be quick about it.
Free to read until the end of April 2026 from the latest issue of the Journal of Policy History -
FDR’s Green Light Letter: Simple Decision, Complex Consequences - https://cup.org/40fIcpj
- Michael Nelson
FDR’s Green Light Letter: Simple Decision, Complex Consequences - https://cup.org/40fIcpj
- Michael Nelson
April 3, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Here's a heads-up to history buffs, policy wonks and politics junkies. Wanna read? Be quick about it.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that defenders of press freedom in the US must get in the habit of speaking up very loudly whenever & wherever free expression is under threat, including at home. The First Amendment ain't gonna protect itself--and it's squarely in Trump's sights.
The Journalist Assistance Network strongly condemns Russia’s designation of the International Women's Media Foundation as an “undesirable” organization, a flagrant act of retaliation against those who defend press freedom and support independent voices: pen.org/press-releas.... (1/2)
Russia’s Designation of International Women’s Media Foundation as “Undesirable” Is a “Blatant” Attack on Press Freedom
Press freedom groups condemn Russia’s designation of the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) as an “undesirable” organization, calling it a flagrant act of retaliation against those who defe...
pen.org
April 3, 2026 at 7:48 AM
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that defenders of press freedom in the US must get in the habit of speaking up very loudly whenever & wherever free expression is under threat, including at home. The First Amendment ain't gonna protect itself--and it's squarely in Trump's sights.
No refunds. Just liquidation blues. Organizer says festivals facing an “extinction event.” "Bluesfest is the latest in a growing tally of events that have skipped a year, or disappeared entirely ... Cost-of-living pressures, high operational costs & changing ticket-buying behaviors" are to blame.
‘They’ve Done a Lot of Damage to the Festival Scene’: How The Demise of Bluesfest Has Been a Suckerpunch For an Industry In Crisis
‘They’ve Done a Lot of Damage to the Festival Scene’: How The Demise of Bluesfest Has Been a Suckerpunch For an Industry In Crisis
The collapsed Bluesfest was meant to get underway today, April 2.
bit.ly
April 2, 2026 at 8:15 AM
No refunds. Just liquidation blues. Organizer says festivals facing an “extinction event.” "Bluesfest is the latest in a growing tally of events that have skipped a year, or disappeared entirely ... Cost-of-living pressures, high operational costs & changing ticket-buying behaviors" are to blame.
More images from Saturday's No Kings rallies Stateside. Gotta love the yellow card at lower right that riffs on the vintage "Go to Jail" penalty card from the classic American board game Monopoly.
March 29, 2026 at 12:51 PM
More images from Saturday's No Kings rallies Stateside. Gotta love the yellow card at lower right that riffs on the vintage "Go to Jail" penalty card from the classic American board game Monopoly.
Wonderful creativity on display at Saturday's No Kings rally "down the Shore" on Long Beach Island in New Jersey's Ocean County.
Wouldn't expect anything less from Jersey folk. But I gotta ask: Is it just me, or does Badgolf Shitler sound like the name of a villain in the "Lord of the Rings"?
Wouldn't expect anything less from Jersey folk. But I gotta ask: Is it just me, or does Badgolf Shitler sound like the name of a villain in the "Lord of the Rings"?
The most memorable signs I spotted at today’s #NoKings rally on Long Beach Island, NJ:
Can we skip to the part where he shoots himself in the bunker?
You can't spell HATRED without RED HAT
Badgolf Shitler
There's only one king (written on a velvet Elvis)
Can we skip to the part where he shoots himself in the bunker?
You can't spell HATRED without RED HAT
Badgolf Shitler
There's only one king (written on a velvet Elvis)
a black background with the words no kings in white letters
Alt: a black background with the words no kings in white letters
media.tenor.com
March 29, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Wonderful creativity on display at Saturday's No Kings rally "down the Shore" on Long Beach Island in New Jersey's Ocean County.
Wouldn't expect anything less from Jersey folk. But I gotta ask: Is it just me, or does Badgolf Shitler sound like the name of a villain in the "Lord of the Rings"?
Wouldn't expect anything less from Jersey folk. But I gotta ask: Is it just me, or does Badgolf Shitler sound like the name of a villain in the "Lord of the Rings"?
Upon reorganizing some accounts I follow into a new list titled 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 / 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨 / 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 / 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, I noticed the Queens Public Library's Literary Thursdays talks are virtual events held 6-7 pm EDT via M'soft Teams. Starting times are 6 am & 7 am Fridays in HK & Tokyo, respectively.
Our virtual Literary Thursdays series brings you live conversations with amazing writers.
Learn More about our April guests: Lachi, Ashley D. Farmer, Clare Pollard, Jordyn Taylor, and Natan Last!
www.queenslibrary.org/calendar?sea...
#NationalPoetryMonth
Learn More about our April guests: Lachi, Ashley D. Farmer, Clare Pollard, Jordyn Taylor, and Natan Last!
www.queenslibrary.org/calendar?sea...
#NationalPoetryMonth
March 29, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Upon reorganizing some accounts I follow into a new list titled 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 / 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨 / 𝙋𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 / 𝙇𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, I noticed the Queens Public Library's Literary Thursdays talks are virtual events held 6-7 pm EDT via M'soft Teams. Starting times are 6 am & 7 am Fridays in HK & Tokyo, respectively.
What'd Trump call The Boss? A "dried out prune of a rocker" whose "skin is all atrophied"? Then rant that Bruce is "dumb as a rock"? LOL. Watch & see if any of that description rings true. Once again, Donny proves that he's the master of projection. Because he sure embodies all of those qualities.
Springsteen: Well, this past winter federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis. They picked the wrong city. Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America. And this reactionary nightmare and these invasions of American cities will not stand.
March 29, 2026 at 7:46 AM
What'd Trump call The Boss? A "dried out prune of a rocker" whose "skin is all atrophied"? Then rant that Bruce is "dumb as a rock"? LOL. Watch & see if any of that description rings true. Once again, Donny proves that he's the master of projection. Because he sure embodies all of those qualities.
An anniversary worth celebrating--and a right worth defending tooth & nail. See Cohen's thread for NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie's comments about the clarity of the US Supreme Court's language upon handing down its ruling in the case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark. There's little room for quibbling.
March 29, 2026 at 6:08 AM
An anniversary worth celebrating--and a right worth defending tooth & nail. See Cohen's thread for NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie's comments about the clarity of the US Supreme Court's language upon handing down its ruling in the case of United States v. Wong Kim Ark. There's little room for quibbling.
Such ghouls. It's unclear if the boy is proficient in any sign language. ICE facilities can't accommodate Deaf people w/o assistive devices, which are hard to replace.
"Hearing aids are highly customized to an individual’s hearing loss, & quality hearing aids can easily cost thousands of dollars."
"Hearing aids are highly customized to an individual’s hearing loss, & quality hearing aids can easily cost thousands of dollars."
“Think about that for a moment: a six-year-old child with a disability suddenly in a different country, separated from the country he has come to know, now surrounded by silence. The horror stories from this White House continue from ICE.”
ICE locked up a deaf kid without his hearing aids—and wouldn't let him have them back
Rep. Eric Swalwell is working to help the family seek humanitarian parole.
www.motherjones.com
March 10, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Such ghouls. It's unclear if the boy is proficient in any sign language. ICE facilities can't accommodate Deaf people w/o assistive devices, which are hard to replace.
"Hearing aids are highly customized to an individual’s hearing loss, & quality hearing aids can easily cost thousands of dollars."
"Hearing aids are highly customized to an individual’s hearing loss, & quality hearing aids can easily cost thousands of dollars."
Note to self: Don't jump to conclusions. I admit I feared the worst for the former Dead Kennedys frontman, but the thread clarifies he's hospitalized in stable condition. His sense of humor is intact, too. Recounting his fall, he uses a classic line from the notorious '80s Life Alert TV commercials.
On Saturday, March 7th Jello Biafra suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by high blood pressure.
As per Jello:
As per Jello:
March 9, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Note to self: Don't jump to conclusions. I admit I feared the worst for the former Dead Kennedys frontman, but the thread clarifies he's hospitalized in stable condition. His sense of humor is intact, too. Recounting his fall, he uses a classic line from the notorious '80s Life Alert TV commercials.
No, that's not a lollipop. Boy, do I feel stupid now. Fool me once ... uh, shame on me. Just figured that's what 34-year-old candy looks like.
also in '80, '88, '92, '00, '04, & whenever/wherever else one of those shitbags tries to run. (adventures in house winnowing, continued.)
March 9, 2026 at 5:47 PM
No, that's not a lollipop. Boy, do I feel stupid now. Fool me once ... uh, shame on me. Just figured that's what 34-year-old candy looks like.
Good to hear Brian Setzer's well again. Saw him solo at the now-defunct Punk Spring festival just outside of Tokyo in the early 2000s. Lars Frederiksen of Rancid introduced him with a heartfelt "Much respect!" Summer Cats tour includes stops in the south Jersey / Philly & north Jersey / NYC areas.
The Stray Cats cancelled their fall 2025 tour due to illness but Brian Setzer is healthy again and the band will tour again this summer, with stops including Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown and Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Tix go on sale this week.
www.njarts.net/172422
www.njarts.net/172422
With Brian Setzer recovered from illness, The Stray Cats will return to the road this summer
Morristown and Atlantic City tickets go on sale this week.
www.njarts.net
March 9, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Good to hear Brian Setzer's well again. Saw him solo at the now-defunct Punk Spring festival just outside of Tokyo in the early 2000s. Lars Frederiksen of Rancid introduced him with a heartfelt "Much respect!" Summer Cats tour includes stops in the south Jersey / Philly & north Jersey / NYC areas.
These pix sum it up. I don't get the fear-mongering about "15-min. cities" back in the US. (Uh, something about herding sheeple into corrals.) Here in Tokyo, I can get the basics done w/in a 10-min. walk of home. My choices increase greatly when I cycle & grow exponentially when I take mass transit.
Love this! Cities are inherently for people, not cars. Yet, we allocate so much precious space to the automobile. There's a reason why cities with the best quality of life around the world have fewer cars. More room for greenspace, more housing and less noise.
Credit: @urbancyclinginstitute.org
Credit: @urbancyclinginstitute.org
March 9, 2026 at 11:30 AM
These pix sum it up. I don't get the fear-mongering about "15-min. cities" back in the US. (Uh, something about herding sheeple into corrals.) Here in Tokyo, I can get the basics done w/in a 10-min. walk of home. My choices increase greatly when I cycle & grow exponentially when I take mass transit.
This account is proving to be very useful as I follow Stateside primary election results from my perch in Tokyo. I have little doubt that it's just as useful back in the US.
It’s Election Night, and we’re tracking over 6,600 elections in Arkansas, North Carolina, and Texas.
Follow all the results on Votes throughout the night as we track both Texas Senate primaries as well as federal, statewide, and local contests.
votes.decisiondeskhq.com
Follow all the results on Votes throughout the night as we track both Texas Senate primaries as well as federal, statewide, and local contests.
votes.decisiondeskhq.com
March 4, 2026 at 5:03 AM
This account is proving to be very useful as I follow Stateside primary election results from my perch in Tokyo. I have little doubt that it's just as useful back in the US.
March 12: "Join game collective Reality Reload ... to try your luck as you experience H1B.Life. In this narrative simulation, the chaotic unpredictability of the US H-1B visa system--where chance, timing & bureaucracy determine who stays & who is deported--is ‘reloaded’ as a darkly humorous game."
If you are in San Francisco on the relevant date, please support this event.
calendar.asianart.org/event/reload...
calendar.asianart.org/event/reload...
Reloading the System - Calendar - Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco houses one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world, with more than 18,000 works of art in its permanent collection. Stroll through 6,000 years of art and culture. %
calendar.asianart.org
March 3, 2026 at 5:31 AM
March 12: "Join game collective Reality Reload ... to try your luck as you experience H1B.Life. In this narrative simulation, the chaotic unpredictability of the US H-1B visa system--where chance, timing & bureaucracy determine who stays & who is deported--is ‘reloaded’ as a darkly humorous game."
Didn't see "Stop Making Sense" upon its 1984 release, nor did I catch the 2023 restored IMAX version of what may be the greatest concert film of all time. Nonetheless, I'm sure neither featured David Byrne as roach-infested Johnny Cash lookalike. I do, however, truly love this style of poster art.
Deadly Prey Gallery will bring its touring show of the stylized and often bizarre movie ads to Mercury Project in Roosevelt Park.
Exhibition of eye-popping Ghanian movie posters coming to San Antonio this Friday
Deadly Prey Gallery will bring its touring show of the stylized and often bizarre movie ads to Mercury Project in Roosevelt Park.
www.sacurrent.com
February 25, 2026 at 8:09 AM
Didn't see "Stop Making Sense" upon its 1984 release, nor did I catch the 2023 restored IMAX version of what may be the greatest concert film of all time. Nonetheless, I'm sure neither featured David Byrne as roach-infested Johnny Cash lookalike. I do, however, truly love this style of poster art.
Russia not at fault? "Budapest [will] not support decisions important to Kyiv until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary & Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. The dispute centres on the ... row over Russian oil supplies. Hungary has also threatened to block approval of a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine."
EU unlikely to agree new Russia sanctions as Hungary blocks deal
EU unlikely to agree new Russia sanctions as Hungary blocks deal
The European Union is not expected to reach agreement on a 20th package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, as Hungary continues to block the...
www.belganewsagency.eu
February 23, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Russia not at fault? "Budapest [will] not support decisions important to Kyiv until Ukraine resumes oil transit to Hungary & Slovakia via the Druzhba pipeline. The dispute centres on the ... row over Russian oil supplies. Hungary has also threatened to block approval of a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine."
The temporary suspension began at 6 am EST on 2/22. "TSA’s PreCheck program allows approved passengers thru a faster security lane at US airports ... to reduce wait times. Global Entry expedites US customs & immigration clearance for pre-approved, low-risk internat'l travelers entering the US."
Homeland security to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs
Homeland security to suspend TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs
Democrats accuse DHS of ‘kneecapping’ programs that help speed registered travelers through security lines
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs as a partial government shutdown continues.
The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines. Suspending them could cause headaches for passengers. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 22, 2026 at 11:25 AM
The temporary suspension began at 6 am EST on 2/22. "TSA’s PreCheck program allows approved passengers thru a faster security lane at US airports ... to reduce wait times. Global Entry expedites US customs & immigration clearance for pre-approved, low-risk internat'l travelers entering the US."
File Under: Better Late Than Never. "Stop Truth Decay"! That's a great one. Good work on the part of the mobilized residents of Annapolis, Maryland. If you're in the area, see the post for info on how to join them.
February 20, 2026 at 8:01 AM
File Under: Better Late Than Never. "Stop Truth Decay"! That's a great one. Good work on the part of the mobilized residents of Annapolis, Maryland. If you're in the area, see the post for info on how to join them.
I've really got to catch up on some of the podcasts I follow, including CJR's "The Kicker." In this day & age, Americans can't take press freedom for granted. It's under constant attack. The overturning of NYT v. Sullivan would be a major blow to US media culture & the profession of journalism.
Why overturning NYT v. Sullivan would hurt conservative media first. Listen in to a special Kicker on press freedom, live in the CJR newsroom with @davidenrich.bsky.social, @jameeljaffer.bsky.social, and host @greenwell.bsky.social. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
February 19, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I've really got to catch up on some of the podcasts I follow, including CJR's "The Kicker." In this day & age, Americans can't take press freedom for granted. It's under constant attack. The overturning of NYT v. Sullivan would be a major blow to US media culture & the profession of journalism.
Reposted by Wayne O'Cohen / 上野公園
Just got off the phone with the President of Antifa. They said they have a cell in Florida that set up a fake tailoring shop, where they created this custom garment to humiliate Michael Flynn.
February 16, 2026 at 6:22 AM
Just got off the phone with the President of Antifa. They said they have a cell in Florida that set up a fake tailoring shop, where they created this custom garment to humiliate Michael Flynn.
Sound like crimes against humanity to me. Hope ICE, DHS, CBP, Noem, Homan et al. are saving the receipts.
❌ Inadequate food and water
❌ Denied timely medical care
❌ Put in solitary confinement
We cannot sit by while pregnant women suffer and miscarry in ICE custody. Take action and tell Congress to investigate these atrocities TODAY: https://bit.ly/3MJ9pgN
❌ Denied timely medical care
❌ Put in solitary confinement
We cannot sit by while pregnant women suffer and miscarry in ICE custody. Take action and tell Congress to investigate these atrocities TODAY: https://bit.ly/3MJ9pgN
Tell Congress: Investigate ICE's treatment of pregnant detainees
Add your name to demand that Members of Congress visit ICE detention centers and investigate how pregnant women are being treated.
bit.ly
February 15, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Sound like crimes against humanity to me. Hope ICE, DHS, CBP, Noem, Homan et al. are saving the receipts.