Pass the Olives

A Jumble of Opinions on Living, Thinking, Reading, and Making Things

Tools for Makers

I post links to tools for makers (1) so I will remember where I found them and (2) as a convenient way to share links with other makers. Much easier than trying to communicate a Website address either verbally or by typing even if I remember it off the cuff. Includes tools for the design phase of pretty much anything — websites, typography, cake decorating, paper flowers, resumes, slow-cook turkey, […]

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Nancy Pelosi Triumphs

Nancy Pelosi and Vladimir Zelsinski entering Congress, 1922

  Nancy Pelosi triumphs again but not for the last time. After becoming the most effective and beloved Speaker of the House in history, Nancy Pelosi announced that she was not leaving Congress but would step down from the leadership. That it was time for the most capable next generation to take charge. Her speech was inspiring, personal, and historic. She returned the political speech to the eloquent tradition of […]

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The Deadly Trap of Code

I sat down yesterday to write out all the brilliant ideas I generated while reading The Making of a Democratic Economy. My enthusiasm and energy were higher than in years and years. All the ideas I had been struggling with for decades had crystallized. I had found the key to a simpler and more sustainable and inclusive life for everyone. The isolation of the pandemic continued so I had days […]

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Julia Child, An American Spy Becomes a French Chef

Bookcover: Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child

Modern Daily Knitting has a weekend post by DG Strong called “Knit to This” in which he offers wonderful recommendations of music, films, etc., to keep you knitting all day. This week it was the newest series, “Julia” on HBO Max along with a YouTube video of a program with Julia Child and a very young Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart Bakes with Julia Child. Of course, Martha tries to one-up […]

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80 Billion Pounds of Wasted Food

A note that says by reading this text instead of viewing a photo, you .are saving .2 grams of carbon emissions.

Over Buying Food Means Wasted Food The latest news, after the war in Ukraine, is the 80 billion pounds of wasted food that Americans produce every year. 22% of the space in our municipal landfills is used to bury wasted food. 37 million cars would be necessary to produce the carbon emissions produced to grow wasted food. 242 pounds of food is wasted by or on behalf of each American […]

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Volodymyr Zelensky: Life Imitates Art

Servant of the People series poster with Zelensky on a bicyble.

Netflix has removed this TV series, Servant of the People, directed by and starring Volodymyr Zelensky — yes, that one. And who was formerly known in English-speaking countries as “Vladimir.” I had seen this TV series before Volodymyr Zelensky became the president of Ukraine. When the election was announced, I noted that it was the same name, a coincidence naturally, probably a common name. Then I saw him sitting in […]

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Barbara Jordan, The Voice of God

Barbara Jordan at the Judiciary Committee Hearings on Watergate and the Impeachment of Richard Nixon

People are the source of all governmental power. —Barbara Jordan. 1976 Barbara Jordan vs Hillary Clinton Clips have been playing for the last few days of Hillary Clinton’s speech at the 2022 National Democratic Convention. Over and over. It’s nice to see her back out there again, but she has to do something with her voice. The harder she tries, the more it sounds witch-like. It’s not pleasant. I wonder where […]

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Am I an Anarchist?

Book cover. The Democracy Project.

I woke up this morning wondering, “Am I an anarchist?” Of all the things I might have awakened wondering, this would have never made the list. It took a second to remember what an anarchist was, and another to remember why I would be thinking about it. As usual, I had been awake at 3 am reading instead of sleeping. Following the Dawn of Everything, it was David Graeber’s history […]

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Affordable City Living in a 72 SF Apartment

Via Hendrix was 21, fresh out of college, and had found a starter job. Unlike her friends who had scattered to the outer boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn, she wanted to live in the absolute center of New York City. There are several neighborhoods that one person or another would consider the true dead center of New York City but Greenwich Village or more commonly the West Village or just […]

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