Matthew Olwell
@mattolwell.bsky.social
Journeyman fluthier at Olwell Flutes. Trad-music-obsessed cat nerd and pickle enthusiast. Neurodivergent malcontent. Best not to ask me about Lord of the Rings. www.olwellflutes.com
🪈 ♾️ 🥒 🐈
🪈 ♾️ 🥒 🐈
Pinned
Matthew Olwell
@mattolwell.bsky.social
· Mar 23
I made my first flute! Well, first solo flight start to finish. Pretty stoked about the results.
The structure of a flutemaking apprenticeship is informal as you might guess. There’s no trade union or guild for flutemakers and so there are times when one has to make one’s own goals and structures.
The structure of a flutemaking apprenticeship is informal as you might guess. There’s no trade union or guild for flutemakers and so there are times when one has to make one’s own goals and structures.
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
Every nazi movement needs a youth wing.
Happening now: Texas leaders announcing a rollout of a statewide program to put TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges across the state. Gov. Abbott adds that schools that stand in the way should be reported to the Texas Education Agency.
December 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Every nazi movement needs a youth wing.
I'd love to know what goes through the minds of the people that design these systems. It plays like that scene in Hitchhiker's Guide when Arthur is arguing with the Vogons about the planning office filing system stuck in a bathroom in a sub basement that was lacking stairs.
The web AND phone payment systems that my municipality uses (thanks, Staunton VA) are *thoroughly* obtuse. Just tried to pay some property taxes for ≥45 mins & then gave up. I'm literally trying to give you money & it's not working. I guess I will go in in person, even though it means a late fee.
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I'd love to know what goes through the minds of the people that design these systems. It plays like that scene in Hitchhiker's Guide when Arthur is arguing with the Vogons about the planning office filing system stuck in a bathroom in a sub basement that was lacking stairs.
The web AND phone payment systems that my municipality uses (thanks, Staunton VA) are *thoroughly* obtuse. Just tried to pay some property taxes for ≥45 mins & then gave up. I'm literally trying to give you money & it's not working. I guess I will go in in person, even though it means a late fee.
December 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The web AND phone payment systems that my municipality uses (thanks, Staunton VA) are *thoroughly* obtuse. Just tried to pay some property taxes for ≥45 mins & then gave up. I'm literally trying to give you money & it's not working. I guess I will go in in person, even though it means a late fee.
Was just watching a YouTube video about cheese (like you do) and was a little startled when the narrator closed with, “Until next time, praised be Jesus.”
It’s fine? But also that kind of thing just weirds me out.
Then I realized that they had actually said, “praised be cheeses.”
Of course.
It’s fine? But also that kind of thing just weirds me out.
Then I realized that they had actually said, “praised be cheeses.”
Of course.
December 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Was just watching a YouTube video about cheese (like you do) and was a little startled when the narrator closed with, “Until next time, praised be Jesus.”
It’s fine? But also that kind of thing just weirds me out.
Then I realized that they had actually said, “praised be cheeses.”
Of course.
It’s fine? But also that kind of thing just weirds me out.
Then I realized that they had actually said, “praised be cheeses.”
Of course.
And that, my friends is the story of one of the experiences that radicalized me right into a goddamn socialist.
The system we have in place allows for musicians, dancers, and other performing artists to be paid a “fair” wage that won’t even pay their rent for the month, while the profiteers hiring them make enough to pay that same rent for (checks notes) >300,000 years.
December 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
And that, my friends is the story of one of the experiences that radicalized me right into a goddamn socialist.
I was once offered a dance gig doing mo-cap for a video game. The pay was OK. Not great but decent. However, I had a hunch that the game was going to make a *lot* of money. I asked whether it was an option to be given residuals in lieu of pay. The people negotiating the artist contracts said no.
I can attest it is rather difficult when you are paid a small amount of money for a short time to create something that makes someone else a half billion dollars
Miles Morales co-creator Sara Pichelli says she does not get any royalties from the ‘Spider-Verse’ films, Insomniac games, or merch
"I don’t get anything … that's the saddest part of my life"
(via SiteJamesons | TW)
"I don’t get anything … that's the saddest part of my life"
(via SiteJamesons | TW)
December 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I was once offered a dance gig doing mo-cap for a video game. The pay was OK. Not great but decent. However, I had a hunch that the game was going to make a *lot* of money. I asked whether it was an option to be given residuals in lieu of pay. The people negotiating the artist contracts said no.
This is an amazing piece of… something.
December 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This is an amazing piece of… something.
So to recap: one of the world’s richest men thinks a widely-respected, hugely beneficial democratic governmental body should be abolished so that he can’t be held accountable for breaking laws. Got it. Seems fine.
Elon Musk is against the European Union being the European Union —he posted this after X (fka Twitter) was fined for violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
December 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
So to recap: one of the world’s richest men thinks a widely-respected, hugely beneficial democratic governmental body should be abolished so that he can’t be held accountable for breaking laws. Got it. Seems fine.
TLDR: do you find a local drone operator but not from random dodgy accounts that pop up commenting on your social media post.
Useful new “I was today years old” knowledge via a neighbor whose pooch went missing:
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
December 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
TLDR: do you find a local drone operator but not from random dodgy accounts that pop up commenting on your social media post.
Useful new “I was today years old” knowledge via a neighbor whose pooch went missing:
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
December 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Useful new “I was today years old” knowledge via a neighbor whose pooch went missing:
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
1) an infrared-equipped drone is a good way to find a lost dog.
2) there are people who do this professionally.
I wish there was some way to hold the top brass accountable when the bubble bursts.
Like, not get them fired but send them to actual prison for crimes against humanity.
Like, not get them fired but send them to actual prison for crimes against humanity.
All of the companies that make the software I use are increasing their prices, to account for an "investment" in AI.
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
December 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM
I wish there was some way to hold the top brass accountable when the bubble bursts.
Like, not get them fired but send them to actual prison for crimes against humanity.
Like, not get them fired but send them to actual prison for crimes against humanity.
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
We are increasingly learning that vaccines have long-term health benefits beyond their intended targets. There is very, very little evidence of vaccination harm in the general population. This will lower long-term health outcomes.
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention will scrutinize the childhood vaccine schedule and may start to upend it.
CDC's vaccine advisers meet to question long-used vaccines
Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control Prevention will scrutinize the childhood vaccine schedule and may start to upend it.
n.pr
December 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
We are increasingly learning that vaccines have long-term health benefits beyond their intended targets. There is very, very little evidence of vaccination harm in the general population. This will lower long-term health outcomes.
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
"The 'male spotlight problem' with autism diagnosis is baked in all the way along the pipeline. Because teachers don’t think of girls being autistic, GPs tend not to refer girls for assessments, which themselves have thresholds that boys are more likely to pass."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-autis...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-autis...
How autism bias failed generations of women
Girls are referred for autism diagnosis about 10 times less often than boys.
www.nzherald.co.nz
December 1, 2025 at 6:06 AM
"The 'male spotlight problem' with autism diagnosis is baked in all the way along the pipeline. Because teachers don’t think of girls being autistic, GPs tend not to refer girls for assessments, which themselves have thresholds that boys are more likely to pass."
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-autis...
www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-autis...
Don’t mind me I’m just having a geeky #righttorepair moment…
“Don’t knock it if it works,” but I’d love to know *why* it works: having an issue with AirPods where one was much quieter than the other. Cleaned dust & dirt out of the outside port, & did a reboot and re-pair, but the issue persisted.
“Don’t knock it if it works,” but I’d love to know *why* it works: having an issue with AirPods where one was much quieter than the other. Cleaned dust & dirt out of the outside port, & did a reboot and re-pair, but the issue persisted.
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Don’t mind me I’m just having a geeky #righttorepair moment…
“Don’t knock it if it works,” but I’d love to know *why* it works: having an issue with AirPods where one was much quieter than the other. Cleaned dust & dirt out of the outside port, & did a reboot and re-pair, but the issue persisted.
“Don’t knock it if it works,” but I’d love to know *why* it works: having an issue with AirPods where one was much quieter than the other. Cleaned dust & dirt out of the outside port, & did a reboot and re-pair, but the issue persisted.
I feel surprised that it’s a matter of public record who has and has not paid their county property taxes. It is right there on the website if I put in a bill number. Is that weird? It feels weird.
December 2, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I feel surprised that it’s a matter of public record who has and has not paid their county property taxes. It is right there on the website if I put in a bill number. Is that weird? It feels weird.
We have an induction cooktop at the fluteshop & it is great. Heat is fast, even, easy to control, & I love having a more energy-efficient way to cook that acts more like gas (but arguably better), without the associated negative health outcomes of gas. Highly recommend!
youtube.com/shorts/7n3vq...
youtube.com/shorts/7n3vq...
Let's talk induction.
YouTube video by Alton Brown
youtube.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:48 AM
We have an induction cooktop at the fluteshop & it is great. Heat is fast, even, easy to control, & I love having a more energy-efficient way to cook that acts more like gas (but arguably better), without the associated negative health outcomes of gas. Highly recommend!
youtube.com/shorts/7n3vq...
youtube.com/shorts/7n3vq...
Me, every time a new operating system comes out with a bunch of new “features” and everything looks different.
two men standing next to each other with one wearing a shirt that says aerosmith
ALT: two men standing next to each other with one wearing a shirt that says aerosmith
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Me, every time a new operating system comes out with a bunch of new “features” and everything looks different.
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
Had a patient who was consulting ChatGPT instead of their insurance's 24/7 nurse line.
1) No. Stop that.
2) It hallucinated ssx for anaphylaxis!
3) Patient has newly dx MCAS, and the only reason I knew about it was due to extensive reading initially inspired by @rahaeli.bsky.social . (Thank you!)
1) No. Stop that.
2) It hallucinated ssx for anaphylaxis!
3) Patient has newly dx MCAS, and the only reason I knew about it was due to extensive reading initially inspired by @rahaeli.bsky.social . (Thank you!)
November 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Had a patient who was consulting ChatGPT instead of their insurance's 24/7 nurse line.
1) No. Stop that.
2) It hallucinated ssx for anaphylaxis!
3) Patient has newly dx MCAS, and the only reason I knew about it was due to extensive reading initially inspired by @rahaeli.bsky.social . (Thank you!)
1) No. Stop that.
2) It hallucinated ssx for anaphylaxis!
3) Patient has newly dx MCAS, and the only reason I knew about it was due to extensive reading initially inspired by @rahaeli.bsky.social . (Thank you!)
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
I'm happy I made the switch to Tidal a few months ago. They pay artists 3x what Spotify does, they don't run ads for ICE, and they don't invest in AI-powered murder drones.
Win-win-win.
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Win-win-win.
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
As controversies pile up, is Spotify losing the streaming wars? | CBC News
The popular listening platform Spotify has dominated the streaming industry for years. But there have been recent calls to boycott the platform over controversies surrounding issues like artist compen...
www.cbc.ca
November 29, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I'm happy I made the switch to Tidal a few months ago. They pay artists 3x what Spotify does, they don't run ads for ICE, and they don't invest in AI-powered murder drones.
Win-win-win.
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Win-win-win.
www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
November 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Demolishing the East Wing of the White House before finalizing plans for what will be built above its ruins is a near-perfect metaphor for Trump's approach to economic policy. The only difference is the wrecking crew doesn’t claim the rubble is evidence of unprecedented growth.
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
There is no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to deaths in children. There is evidence that COVID causes serious harm — including long COVID, MIS-C, cardiac complications & diabetes.
This administration’s actions are dangerous, and the damage to the public and children may be irreversible
This administration’s actions are dangerous, and the damage to the public and children may be irreversible
Big change: FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements under RFK Jr ally
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements, claiming child covid shot deaths
Vinay Prasad, the nation’s top vaccine regulator, said his team concluded that coronavirus shots were linked to children’s deaths, necessitating a new approach.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
There is no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to deaths in children. There is evidence that COVID causes serious harm — including long COVID, MIS-C, cardiac complications & diabetes.
This administration’s actions are dangerous, and the damage to the public and children may be irreversible
This administration’s actions are dangerous, and the damage to the public and children may be irreversible
Apparently we’ve all been living a lie.
Wash a cut or scrape with water instead of hydrogen peroxide (and then bandage with antibiotic ointment).
Peroxide, it would seem, does more harm than good, because it kills bacteria, but also healthy tissue.
healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...
Wash a cut or scrape with water instead of hydrogen peroxide (and then bandage with antibiotic ointment).
Peroxide, it would seem, does more harm than good, because it kills bacteria, but also healthy tissue.
healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...
Should You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean a Wound?
Hydrogen peroxide might be the first thing you grab when treating a wound in order to help disinfect it. While the sometimes-painful bubbling is definitely sanitizing the area, it’s also destroying he...
healthcare.utah.edu
November 29, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Apparently we’ve all been living a lie.
Wash a cut or scrape with water instead of hydrogen peroxide (and then bandage with antibiotic ointment).
Peroxide, it would seem, does more harm than good, because it kills bacteria, but also healthy tissue.
healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...
Wash a cut or scrape with water instead of hydrogen peroxide (and then bandage with antibiotic ointment).
Peroxide, it would seem, does more harm than good, because it kills bacteria, but also healthy tissue.
healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...
Reposted by Matthew Olwell
The U.S.’s proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan is this: Russia cuts Trump and his buddies in on the spoils of war.
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The U.S.’s proposed Russia-Ukraine peace plan is this: Russia cuts Trump and his buddies in on the spoils of war.