If your HOA is going to be a whirlwind of federal civil rights violations, maybe consider not criming in front of a federal judge.

RantWoman needs this video. Probably lots of others need videos like this.

And a certain delusional dementia patient needs a direct pathway to secure and genteel retirement.

Dinner and Plague

RantMom at Christmastime
proudly in a new chair

RantWoman has been meaning to offer up a #Pandemic plus 5 years piece. RantWoman would prefer NOT to be offering up today's post.

Yesterday the RantSisters received a normal conscientious email from RantWoman's new abode: a small number of residents and one staffperson had tested positive for #COVID.

RantWoman did not immediately pick up the phone and demand "Mom, are YOU all right?" Instead RantWoman decided that either RantMom would share news herself or it could wait until the RantWomen's nightly phone chat. On the call, RantMom definitely sounded drippy and congested. She also mentioned knowing of the cases among her neighbors. AND she mentioned another common COVID onset symptom, as well as plans to stay home from a Tuesday volunteer gig. At this point, RantWoman had to say "MOM, GET TESTED."

Tonight, when the RantWomen chatted, RantMom sounded a little worse than yesterday. RantWoman's experience from her own long-avoided encounter with "the 'rona" is that the cough and effect on a person's voice are different than a regular cold. That was definitely true for RantMom who ruefully acknowledged what RantWoman suspected. RantMom tested positive and this time has symptoms!. RantMom also said she had eaten dinner with one of the other cases that tested positive a few days ago. 

Bah! It's not like RantMom would ever let anyone tell her not to eat dinner with her neighbors. RantWoman also considers it a blessing that the dining companion this time is alive and recovering, not falling over dead.

So now RantMom is isolating. Meals come to her. She puts on a mask to run out and get mail or toss out trash. RantWoman would SO like to run over and give RantMom a hug. RantWoman is scratching her head about whether she can and should deliver something supportive. The RantWomen also talked about masks. Neither of us is crazy about paper masks. Cloth masks are imperfect but some mask is always better than no mask.

Maybe another day RantWoman will go on some about:

--the assortment of different masks still lurking in coat pockets and bags

--how good it felt to move along some mail order shoes that never fit right to their destiny in the rest of the universe.

--assorted meditations about cooking and technology

--the colorful but not always perfectly fitting blouses RantWoman spent some of her #Pandemic stimulus payments on.

--the new bed from Amazon and why RantWoman is definitely peeved with Jeff Bezos on Constitutional and political grounds.

Tonight, though, it's all about RantMom. If you pray, prayers would be appreciated.

RIP Carl Jarvis

 Sometimes when a person of tremendous influence and admiration in RantWoman's life passes away, RantWoman tries to herd words together herself.

Today, on the date of Carl Jarvis' passing RantWoman is going to recycle a bit of email and provide links to past commentary

From RantWoman's email:

A, thank you for bring the news, sad and probably expected as it is.

Deep condolences to Carl's wife who I never knew well except for a sense of her faithfully standing alongside Carl

..Carl's example continues to be an inspiration and definitely let's do an angel wall. 

Carl Jarvis, The Legacy Lives On

A free flowing interview with the creator of the Washington Council of the Blind Newsline Magazine, on his journey through life.

 

Show Notes

From Reginald George: Carl has played a pivotal role in the blindness movement of Washington state over his long life. We feel it is important to bring you this conversation from November 2019, hosted by Heather, while Carl is among us to enjoy it. The following excerpt is from an article published in the Winter 2020 issue of the Washington Council of the Blind Newsline:

 

From Heather Meares: As I thought about the concept of navigating uncharted territory and what that really means, I asked myself, who’s life represents an example of this? Who would I want to use as a model, mentor and guide? My first answers were Yoda from Star Wars, Dumbledore from the Harry Potter book series, and Gandalf the Great from J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings. Since these are all fictional characters, I kept coming back to Carl Jarvis, who in many ways is like all of these iconic magical entities. He is one of our original Washington Council of the Blind members and has led quite a life. They all exhibit a lifetime of wisdom and knowledge beyond measure, the ability to show others the path without traveling it for them, and an intriguing aura of mystery that leaves you wondering about their own journey. On rare occasions, we are allowed a glimpse into their past, which made them who they became. One thing is clear. None of it was easy. In fact, many treacherous roads were traveled, sorrows and difficulties experienced, and much was sacrificed. One thing I know is when you are given the gift of time with someone like this, you don’t talk – you listen and absorb everything they have to say. I am pleased to give you all a little peek into the window of Carl Jarvis.

You may access the following link to read Heather's original column, "Cheshire Cat Interviews #7: Walls, Windows, and Doors"

Here

Previously on this blog

Adventures of RantWoman: Sue Ammeter 1948 - 2018

Adventures of RantWoman: Historical Rhetoric and Invective

Top Commerce Dept Official RESIGNS, BLASTS Starlink inferiority to other paths to more broadband access

Short version: Elon is trying to STEAL BEAD funds

After conversations about this post, RantWoman stands by serious concern about an unelected tech bro plowing into EVERY aspect of the US government.

RantWoman also notes that the company, Ookla FIBER referred to with concerns about the effective speeds of Starlink services can be expected to vigorously represent its own interests. For some hard-to-serve remote areas, satellite may in fact be the best option even if it means that people might have good speeds one hour a week using service at someone else's house. RantWoman definitely does not want to impose her urban-centric experience of internet availability on places that solve problems differently.

And RantWoman stands by concerns!

Pay the President no mind. Play music!

These two 60 minutes segments COMPLETELY warn this musician;'s kid's heart..

RantWoman has PLENTY to say about #DEI and encourages everyone else who believes in the power of people's gifts to keep saying it!

Playing in harmony, despite the president's DEI executive order

Bikes vs Peds Floating Bus Stops in City of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada

RantWoman is aware of several Seattle locations where there is a bike lane between a bus stop and the rest of the sidewalk. RantWoman often finds this placement annoying but has been able to get used to it.

Discussion on a recent committee call suggested that people need to look at whether the "floating" bus stops have flashing lights, no signal, or full Accessible Ped Signal.

Also to be argued about: "buses MUST always stop at the curb." RantWoman is unclear where this point is a legal angle that can be sued over. RantWoman is also openminded about whether boarding and deboarding passengers can be done safely with the right ped infrastructure and safety culture among cyclists.

At a BARE minimum, a lot of cyclists really need to be more courteous about using their bell, ROUTINELY, whether they see a pedestrian or not.

#Bikeshare companies could also definitely alert customers about this particular traffic safety consideration!

RantWoman has no idea whether there have been enough complaints to form any other opinions

THANK YOU Broadband Breakfast. Celebrate 5 years of Broadband Breakfast Live online Wednesday march 12 at 9 am Pacific

Pandemic 5 years on. RantWoman is not exactly nostalgic for the onset of the #Covid19 #pandemic. Besides, with cratering stock market, out of control President and tech bro zillionaires, as well as measles, monkeypox and bird flu all knocking at the door of, charitably, a brainworm afflicted Secretary of Health and Human Services, the current world environment feels just as unsettled if not more so. 

That said RantWoman wants to offer appreciation for one weekly breath of technological, policy, and business insight that really helped RantWoman stay sane: Broadband breakfast.

Broadband Breakfast Live online is a series of weekly one-hour zoom sessions featuring clumps of people from across the telecommunications sector. Each show featured several speakers with varied perspectives on a common topic: local dimensions of broadband deployment, fixed wire vs wireless, urban vs rural considerations, middle mile telecom markets, household budgets, the affordable Connectivity Program, federal budgets and federal regulations just to name a few topics.

All of the presenters were knowledgeable and respectful of each other's perspectives, as well as respectful of questions such as RantWoman who rather frequently asked some question about how are the needs of people with disabilities addressed.

RantWoman has learned a great deal from all these sessions. RantWoman has also forwarded links to others and has heard appreciation for that.

Well done Broadband Breakfast: Better Broadband, Better Lives.

For more information and to help celebrate Five years of Broadband Breakfast Live Online please see

Broadband Breakfast on March 12, 2025 - 5 Years On: Where Is Broadband Now?

RantWoman unfortunately has to miss the live event because of a medical appointment that cannot happen by telemedicine but will definitely keep following. 

Other #pandemic survival lifesavers spawned by internet access and the proliferation of accessibility measures

The American Council of the Blind Community calls. RantWoman does not remember exactly how many calls happened per week or per month in the early days of the pandemic. Now though, there are dozens of facilitated calls, some weekly, some monthly, initially on Zoom and also now edited for podcasts. The Community calls series offer vital community connection, religious, mental health, guide dog care, and daily living as wellas  technical training for facilitators and attenders alike.

Telemedicine: RantWoman at one point had a recurrence of a skin infection. Previously the infection had been easily treated with antibiotic. RantWoman was able to photograph the affected area with her phone, upload it to her medical record and get the needed prescription without needing to venture out.

Not so great:

All the parents with disabilities struggling to work with inaccessible online learning platforms.

All the kids suffering through the isolation of trying to do school online.

Blog tips for #pandemic commentary: RantWoman seeds her pandemic related posts with the #Pandemi hashtag and somethings with #COVID or #COVID19