PicoBlog

Nona the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir Synopsis: 1/2 slice-of-life of a 12-year old on a world about to blow up, 1/2 crackfic action/romance/theology anime. Book Review: The first half of this is Nona living a relatively normal life for a week on a colonized planet. Tech level is very near-future, the entire world is gonna blow up soon and everyone knows it, and the city is basically a warzone. It feels very much like a slice-of-life story that could be written right now in Kiev.

In July 2020, I wrote an exposé for the Marina Times newspaper about the corruption within the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) related to a pay-to-play scheme called the Community Benefits Program where joint venture boards made up of firms bidding on large contracts are “encouraged” to donate to favored nonprofits which, of course, inevitably benefits cronies in and around the SFPUC. The mastermind behind the program was Juliet Ellis, the girlfriend of Harlan Kelly Jr.

Discussing the origins and impact of Black cultural production and exchange, identity, and intellectual property via our digital, social, and archival discussions - and whatever else I find timely and interesting. By Shamira Ibrahim · Over 1,000 subscribersNo thanksncG1vNJzZmirmJa6qLvDZ6qumqOprqS3jZympmc%3D

Art by Sorimachi Akira “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou I remember when I first heard about instagram. A friend of mine, let’s call her Tina, introduced me to it during a lunch break in school. I believe it was in 2014. The conversation went something like this: Tina: “People share photos of themselves and of different things, like flowers or food or things they like”.

Greetings! I was planning to write an elaborate, extensively researched issue for you all today, but the Thanksgiving holiday intervened and I’m also just kind of a wreck lately, so instead here are two paragraphs from Sam Anderson’s lovely 2022 profile of the poet Sharon Olds, which I very belatedly read over the weekend, that struck me as just wonderful and something we might all try to steal in one way or another:

Hi friends! Here I am in your inbox again, bringing you the Fat Bubble, where we honour the contributions and resources of fat folks and fat culture. And yes, this week I'm sharing my thoughts on Barbie, the movie.  When I saw Barbie last week, my thought was, 'I'm going to be talking about this a lot in sessions!'. Indeed, one dear client said to me this week, "When I was watching it, I thought 'did Vicky write this script?

As I draft this post, I'm on a flight to Atlanta from Chicago, reflecting on a truly enriching Shabbaton spent with the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation (JRC) in Evanston, Illinois. This past weekend was a vivid reminder of the beauty and strength found within our Jewish communities, especially those like JRC, deeply committed to racial equity and inclusivity. The warmth and openness of the JRC members, their leaders, and my fellow Reconstructionist rabbis were profoundly moving.

Ever since I was twenty-five, property development has been my calling. But thanks to an irresistible opportunity, and despite knowing nothing about film, I also became a proud producer on the upcoming sequel, Shawshank Redemption II.  Production on the film had finished. To celebrate, there was a private screening of Shawshank Redemption II at the director’s house on the Sydney Harbour. When I arrived, I scanned the golden foyer and spotted Richie Klein: world famous director, two Academy Awards.

I’ve got a REALLY simple but hugely flavorful sheet-pan chicken recipe for you this week. This chicken isn’t spicy — it’s *spiced.* We’re tossing chicken, potatoes, and leeks on a large sheet pan with oil and spices, roasting it, making a very simple garlicky aioli (AKA just stirring grated garlic into yogurt), and chowing down. It’s easy, it’s flavorful, and I have a million ideas for how to use up leftovers, should you be lucky enough to have any.