Leaving RUSSIA because of ... Internet Censorship

#Russia #Censorship #FAFO

Ride Transit month, but one mode at a time

 June is #RideTransitMonth. This probably is not what anyone meant.

Car drives into elevated Seattle light rail station

Car removed from elevated light rail tracks in Seattle

Kenya protests against US Ebola containment facility AND concerns in the US

 #Ebola #Kenya

Kenya govt spokesperson defends US Ebola facility as ‘reciprocal support, not a threat’

The Last Word | Is Kenya prepared for Ebola outbreak?

Why the US won’t treat Ebola patients at home | The Excerpt

U.S. has 13 Ebola treatment centers ready: NIH Director

And here comes #FIFA

Health emergency readiness: Is the US ready for the next outbreak? | This is America

The World's biggest Instagram Cluck?

Iceland

First, a volcano vid from a while ago because RantWoman wants something visual

Hah! RantWoman figured that the Icelandair quest for the world's worst photographer will involve social media. If there is a subcategory in the World's Worst Photographer contest for world's biggest social media cluck, RantWoman would jump in with both feet, all10 thumbs, and an, um, unique visual experience.

RantWoman regularly gets lost on Facebook. RantWoman will save her full Dial-a-Tirade treatment about Instagram for another post. Luckily, partly because of someone pointing out a RantWoman appearance, RantWoman has been stumbling around Instagram lately more than average. 

RantWoman has plenty of opportunity to see what Irrepressible Nephew is up to. Currently his stream runs heavily toward car mechanic topics and lines of cars parked long a highway next to perfectly lovely mountains. Enough said? Some of the cars ARE electric at least.

RantWoman discovered and went looking for a number of former contacts who clearly fled the Elon Musk onslaught on Twitter / X. Okayyyy, maybe spending more time on Instagram will pay off. MAYBE.

RantWoman also happened on posts about the 13 finalists for the World's Worst Photographer contest. RantWoman is not sure she has been able to Coax Instagram into showing her all the finalists, and RantWoman has no idea how even to vote beyond attempting to share some favorites that definitely make RantWoman laugh. 

One of the examples gives RantWoman vertigo the same way anyone trying to do a Zoom call while walking (or HEAVEN FORFEND, driving) on a zoom call. And there is no audio explanation so NOPE.  Too worst for RantWoman.

Some of the finalists definitely make RantWoman smile.

RantWoman loves the idea of a mom competing. RantWoman would love to imagine a trip for a whole family.

A guy from Australia boasts of being "reliably unreliable" and persistent as well.

A woman named Blanche has a really funny blurry photo and boasts of being Delusional 

RantWoman grinned about a couple other finalists but is done trying to coax Instagram into revealing them again to refresh her memory.

Anyway, everyone definitely smiles better on camera than RantWoman does and if RantWoman can stumble on a hashtag will definitely to try to follow along with whoever scores the "World's Worst Photographer" crown.

Gun Violence! Bah! And Listen to gun owners

There is too much gun violence in Seattle. There is too much gun violence among pimps on Aurora. There is too much gun violence among youth RantWoman hears about. There is too much gun violence period.

RantWoman has two seemingly contradictory further opinions.

1. Gun safety training should be mandatory in high schools. This is the norm in places like CO where guns are, well, woven into the culture. RantWoman should perhaps research actual rates of youth gun violence in states where firearms safety is mandatory compared to states like WA. 

2. In the meantime, listen to SERIOUS  safety advice from two people in a position to know. First gun owner on gun safety and why loosening gun buying restrictions is a really dumb idea in the first place and even worse if Don Junior is investing.

Oh, and the proposals for both the ATF and the Postal Service to loosen rules about guns comes with an ad campaign Don Junior has a financial stake in, with the promotion aimed especially at younger buyers. What could possibly go wrong?

Now, for even more "what could possibly go wrong?" elements, a post from about amonth ago by Bele of the Ranch:

Let's talk about Hegseth wanting guns and removing fences on military bases....

Not the worst of 127,642 bad photographers? Disappointed? Relieved?

 RantWoman is grinning about the following communication from IcelandAir:

Dear applicant,  Thank you for applying to become Icelandair’s bad photographer.  After reviewing all applications, we’ve made our final selection – and unfortunately, you won’t be moving forward this time.  The good news, however, is that out of 127,642 applications, a sea of truly questionable photography, you’re simply… not the worst. Congratulations (we think).  As a small token of our appreciation, we’re awarding you a diploma certifying that you are not the worst photographer in the world. (read the diploma. It makes RantWoman grin.) We’re also gifting you $100 off flights from the US to Iceland. Use code XXXXXX (actual code not shown) when booking. Valid for travel between September 1 and December 15, 2026, and available for booking until June 1, 2026. Offer applies to Economy Standard and Saga Premium airfares.   We also invite you to join the Icelandair community by signing up for our newsletter. You’ll get early access to offers and package deals to Iceland, and a first look at what’s coming next. We hope to welcome you here one day. Sign up here. (Oh GOOD, Email and not some freaky social media thing RantWoman is already vexed about.) If you sign up before May 31, you’ll also be entered into a draw to win .... gift card to use on icelandair.com. Thank you for the time, effort, and admirable commitment to being authentically not great at photography. We genuinely enjoyed every submission.  We hope to welcome you on board soon!   Wishing you all the best in your future photographic misadventures,  The Icelandair team  Whew! What a relief.  No expectations to perform vigorous outdoor exercise, no matter how gorgeous the scenery might be. No need to plan for appropriate apparel. No need to clear schedule and a chance at a later booking opportunity. RantWoman has been having LOTS of fun thinking about possibilities. RantWoman never minds another chance to share her own eccentricities with a wider audience. OK, so MAYBE AI is about to render obsolete a capacity to go on at length about the literary dimensions of alt text  RantWoman is not objecting to multiple nudges to wander further into social media channels outside her current familiarity zone. RantWoman has been contemplating demographics that might enjoy different aspects of Iceland life and culture. Add in watching YouTube videos and reacting both about things that intrigue her and things that evoke history, culture, collisions of religious traditions, and whether or not, as a story on AL Jazeera suggests Prozac is essential for happiness in Iceland. Stay tuned for more ramble.

Ebola, DRC, Kenya today

 #Ebola #DRC #Kenya

First, what looks like a VERY responsible fundraising channel:

Direct Relief | Official Charity Site

Two suspected cases in Brazil ruled out today, June 1

Ebola in Brazil Update - June 1st, 2026

5 Ebola patients in Africa recover, World Health Organization says

The Missing Piece in Our Outbreak Response

The infectious agent is never the whole story.

The proposed US site in Kenya is supposed to be staff ed by people with no experience dealing with Ebola.

LOTS of misinformation about MEASLES. Importance of herd immunity. People admitted to hospital with measles have pneumonia. Measles is PREVENTABLE with vaccination.

And as a side note:

Diphtheria, SCARY, Not Ebola and PREVENTABLE with vaccination

Patient Arrives Gasping. Doctors Find a Membrane That Bleeds