Charles Olson
@charlesolson.bsky.social
Parent, software engineer, woodworker, hiker, skier, aspiring guitarist, great big nerd about things like transit, infrastructure, geography etc. You know, that guy.
Hi, I'm a steep narrow shot in the woods with a big rock in it, that my ski helmet did its job against. Bought a new helmet that day, same model because I knew it worked.
Hi, I'm prolonged labor!
I'd say I was "never having been born in the first place due to my mom having been ridiculously premature" except, neonatology not having been invented yet, she just muscled straight through that one.
I'd say I was "never having been born in the first place due to my mom having been ridiculously premature" except, neonatology not having been invented yet, she just muscled straight through that one.
Hello, I'm a ruptured brain aneurysm.
January 3, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Hi, I'm a steep narrow shot in the woods with a big rock in it, that my ski helmet did its job against. Bought a new helmet that day, same model because I knew it worked.
Then-President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe visited my university campus once. I was riding my bike around the back of the Campus Center and saw an important-looking Black man being escorted to a limo by several obvious security men, who kept a close eye on me as I rode by. Then realized who it was.
Please quote this from the time you didn't interact with someone famous.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
I was visiting with family in New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the same time that Mother Theresa was there visiting her Missionaries of Charity. The bishop held a Mass for her at the church where I was baptized. I didn't go.
Catching a train from Bristol Temple Meads, but they shifted the service along the platform because a scene from THE OUTLAWS was being shot where it would usually come in. The scene featured Christopher Walken and Stephen Merchant, but my train came before they shot it so I didn't see either of 'em.
December 30, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Then-President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe visited my university campus once. I was riding my bike around the back of the Campus Center and saw an important-looking Black man being escorted to a limo by several obvious security men, who kept a close eye on me as I rode by. Then realized who it was.
The end of indoor public smoking being socially acceptable is up there with same-sex marriage and the end of the Cold War as one of the most awesome societal changes of my lifetime. "non-smoking sections" in restaurants and airplanes were a fucking joke.
It’s crazy that people used to be able to just smoke cigarettes wherever they wanted
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 AM
The end of indoor public smoking being socially acceptable is up there with same-sex marriage and the end of the Cold War as one of the most awesome societal changes of my lifetime. "non-smoking sections" in restaurants and airplanes were a fucking joke.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar. (Or RHPS)
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar. (Or RHPS)
December 8, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar. (Or RHPS)
Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar. (Or RHPS)
Reposted by Charles Olson
Hey Megyn Kelly,
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
November 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Hey Megyn Kelly,
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
Reposted by Charles Olson
Warning to the feds: if Trump sends soldiers to NYC, we have very varied sandwich options at our disposal. You will encounter a fusillade of bahm mi, BEC, gyro, chop cheese, BLT, doubles, lox bagel, croque-madame, torta and döner.
Hell, half a Katz’s pastrami on rye could wipe out a couple of guys.
Hell, half a Katz’s pastrami on rye could wipe out a couple of guys.
November 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Warning to the feds: if Trump sends soldiers to NYC, we have very varied sandwich options at our disposal. You will encounter a fusillade of bahm mi, BEC, gyro, chop cheese, BLT, doubles, lox bagel, croque-madame, torta and döner.
Hell, half a Katz’s pastrami on rye could wipe out a couple of guys.
Hell, half a Katz’s pastrami on rye could wipe out a couple of guys.
Reposted by Charles Olson
Donald Trump has succeeded in doing what Osama Bin Laden tried and failed to do.
October 23, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Donald Trump has succeeded in doing what Osama Bin Laden tried and failed to do.
No, that’s monophonic. Monogamy is when a market has only one customer.
No, that’s mahogany. Monogamy is how music was recorded before they invented stereo.
Monogamy is that wood they make expensive furniture out of
October 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
No, that’s monophonic. Monogamy is when a market has only one customer.
Reposted by Charles Olson
Man, it's been a minute since I did something silly like this
September 6, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Man, it's been a minute since I did something silly like this
Slightly diminish a band: Maybe
August 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Slightly diminish a band: Maybe
Note to Democrats: Mamdani's victory is an object lesson in how to not be giant fucking cowards. www.readtpa.com/p/want-to-kn...
Want to Know How Democrats Should Handle Trans Rights? Ask Zohran Mamdani
The 33-year-old socialist just crushed Andrew Cuomo by doing what many national Democrats won't: having convictions.
www.readtpa.com
June 26, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Note to Democrats: Mamdani's victory is an object lesson in how to not be giant fucking cowards. www.readtpa.com/p/want-to-kn...
I didn't actually meet Noam Chomsky, but I sat next to his son in junior high English class and went to his house once when we were doing a project together. (Didn't really know who his dad was at the time.)
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
June 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I didn't actually meet Noam Chomsky, but I sat next to his son in junior high English class and went to his house once when we were doing a project together. (Didn't really know who his dad was at the time.)
Reposted by Charles Olson
I'm sure I won't be alone in this, but suan la chow show from Mary Chung's.
The chicken pagnotelle sandwich from Emma's in Kendall Square. (h/t @totient.bsky.social for reminding me of this one)
Brunch at Johnny D's in Davis Square.
The chicken pagnotelle sandwich from Emma's in Kendall Square. (h/t @totient.bsky.social for reminding me of this one)
Brunch at Johnny D's in Davis Square.
I don't want to hear about your lost loves, tell me about the restaurant food that haunts you because you'll never be able to taste it again
April 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I'm sure I won't be alone in this, but suan la chow show from Mary Chung's.
The chicken pagnotelle sandwich from Emma's in Kendall Square. (h/t @totient.bsky.social for reminding me of this one)
Brunch at Johnny D's in Davis Square.
The chicken pagnotelle sandwich from Emma's in Kendall Square. (h/t @totient.bsky.social for reminding me of this one)
Brunch at Johnny D's in Davis Square.
OK, when David Brooks of all people is calling for a full-on civic uprising, you know shit needs to go down and go down hard. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/o...
Opinion | What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal. (Gift Article)
It will take a concerted effort by every sector of our society to respond to Trumpism’s threat.
www.nytimes.com
April 18, 2025 at 5:01 AM
OK, when David Brooks of all people is calling for a full-on civic uprising, you know shit needs to go down and go down hard. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/o...
Repost with an image of your favorite James Bond (wrong answers only).
April 10, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Repost with an image of your favorite James Bond (wrong answers only).
Robert Reich has a theory as to why Trump hasn't openly defied the courts (yet). robertreich.substack.com/p/my-last-re...
My last tentative reason for nauseous optimism
Friends,
robertreich.substack.com
March 23, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Robert Reich has a theory as to why Trump hasn't openly defied the courts (yet). robertreich.substack.com/p/my-last-re...
Reposted by Charles Olson
Okay, jumping in the meme pool. 1 like = 1 thing I love.
Little good things add up, and that matters more than ever.
Little good things add up, and that matters more than ever.
This is a pleasing meme. I will talk about nice things and I'd love to hear about yours.
1 like=1 thing I love
1 like=1 thing I love
January 22, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Okay, jumping in the meme pool. 1 like = 1 thing I love.
Little good things add up, and that matters more than ever.
Little good things add up, and that matters more than ever.
The thing that most upsets me about the murder of the CEO of United Healthcare is not that he was murdered, or that people are celebrating it, but that it could have been the catalyst for some real reform of our terrible healthcare system. But that ain't happening in the next four years.
December 6, 2024 at 6:59 PM
The thing that most upsets me about the murder of the CEO of United Healthcare is not that he was murdered, or that people are celebrating it, but that it could have been the catalyst for some real reform of our terrible healthcare system. But that ain't happening in the next four years.
So, what obvious thing am I missing here? I have 4 replies to my intro post, which show up in my notifications, but when I click the word balloon icon with a 4 next to it, they don't show up, it just gives me the prompt to reply myself. Same on everyone else's posts; I can't see any replies.
November 11, 2024 at 5:15 PM
So, what obvious thing am I missing here? I have 4 replies to my intro post, which show up in my notifications, but when I click the word balloon icon with a 4 next to it, they don't show up, it just gives me the prompt to reply myself. Same on everyone else's posts; I can't see any replies.