FactCheck: if the President says water is wet, FACTCHECK, Memphis version.

RantWoman is quitely collecting media accounts of various cities reactions to offers of national guard troops for no apparent emergency, especially when there are areas where there are emergencies that tne Guard is not getting sent to.

Let's talk about Trump, troops in Memphis, and a fact check....

PS. RantWoman is a big fan of Belle of the Ranch for concise and always pithy reporting and analysis

Interstellar object thriller: 3/I Atlas--and NOT just one of Elon's children.

A wholesome alternative to many other current news timelines.

A HUGE Interstellar Object is Shooting Towards Earth at Extreme Speed 💥 ...

Previously from RantWoman

Adventures of RantWoman: What to expect when 3IAtlas comes by in late October and in March?

Aliens or basic but still poorly understood physics of complex dust plasma?

Most likely just regular physics, but RantWoman has the quaint expectation, based only on clean science fiction, that aliens should arrive in a nice proper vehicle like the Starship enterprise, not in a raggedy trail of dust with high potential to mess up the entire heliosphere. 

And speaking of planetary level upheavals

M8.8 MegaQuake Changed Earth’s Spin, Tilt… and Even Time!

Massive Updates!! Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS Shows Strange New Behavior

Strange Structures Surrounding 3I/ATLAS Revealed as it Begins Glowing Green 🤯

Dark red color but glowing green

BREAKING: James Webb Detects Something Alive Inside 3I/ATLAS—It’s Moving Toward Us

James Webb Telescope CONFIRMS 3I/ATLAS Is Much Bigger Than We Thought

Scientists Just Released a NEW 3I/ATLAS Image — And It Defies Explanation!

What to expect when 3IAtlas comes by in late October and in March?

Something 1/2 THE SIZE of the SUN has Entered our Solar System 👁️‍🗨️ THI...

Imagine: LabLm will read a bunch of scientific papers aloud.

What can people on Earth expect when this interstellar object passes through the heliosphere?

Does a blind person actually need to interact with the images or is there plenty of information in the narration in spite of "this one here" and "that one there."

complex dusty plasma

Mua Mua

Strange Metal Signatures Detected from 3I/ATLAS as it Begins to GROW a Tail ☄️

Earth Evolution

And for MORE measurements

Energy Analytics

Social Media in Russia today.

Russian Censorship is Getting Bad...

Another amazing quid pro quo: is Paramount killing a goose that lays golden eggs?

Trump SECRET DEAL to TAKE OUT Colbert UNCOVERED?!

Congratulations Graduates! When College Grads Have More Spine Than Their Universities?

Friendly, not very gentle reminder, before anything else..

Adventures of RantWoman: ANYONE can and MUST immediately denounce the total humanitarian blockade in Gaza.

This post is dedicated to everyone who will be motivated to give protest speeches at their college graduations and everyone considering strategies to survive the pomp and circumstance..

#Genocide in #Gaza is an obvious choice for a topic, Also, on point to RantWoman: all the current administrations assaults on science, free speech, education, and the hard fought gains in civil and human rights in the US.

This post is also offered in solidarity with Harvard, the US oldest university and all the idiocy coming their way, as well as every other university (Looking at you, U of WA, among others) trying to address many conflicting concerns.

Today's youth probably do not need RantWoman's advice about how to protest. One prerogative of advancing age and increasing curmudgeon status is to offer unsolicited advice anyway.

And if, heaven forefend, speakers offer comments that laud any aspect of the current national and international mess, RantWoman would say the following: 

1. Protest in numbers large enough that individuals cannot be isolated and the protest cannot be erased. This goes for life beyond graduation ceremonies!

2. Do the best you can to tolerate at least SOME of the objectionable speech, not because anyone needs more objectionable speech but in deference to the concept of free speech and space one HOPES to find in university settings to have spirited discussion and disagreement. 

3. Listen before doing anything disruptive and be creative!

Here is a quote offered without comment from the Daily Princetonian online Reunions issue in consideration of space for academic freedom:

STANDING STRONG: Jerry Zhu and Preston Ferraiuolo argue that it’s time for Princetonians to realize that for years, Eisgruber has kept the University on the right course of free expression and academic freedom. Under his tenure, Old Nassau has routinely ranked as one of the schools with the most robust protections for free speech. He has arguably handled the controversial issues of the past two years the best of any of our peer institutions, and in a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed

With that, RantWoman has Things to Say about her own graduation from Princeton 40 years ago before a truly inspiring video about some of this year's graduation speeches so far.

Some wonderful orange flowers
RantWoman can't identify behind a fence

First, RantWoman is not attending her 40th class reunion. This is not, unfortunately, that RantWoman fears she might be overcome by some overwhelming though problematic urge to protest something. 

RantWoman considered some options far enough in advance that probably things could have worked out but other Life Circumstances have gotten in the way. Plus RantWoman is inept about parties but may find time to opine further about class reunion traditions in another post.

For the record, after the anti-apartheid sit-in the year RantWoman graduated from Princeton, as RantWoman has previously written, RantWoman and 45 other graduating seniors were all on disciplinary probation. Many people besides the sanctioned protestors also carried black balloons and wore red armbands.

RantWoman has no memory of the graduation speech. RantWoman does remember a roar of approval when Dr. Seuss, a figure who probably helped many in the class learn to read, was awarded an honorary degree. Considering all that has come to light abou Dr. Seuss' racist views, there is a certain irony in having both an anti-apartheid protest and recognition of Dr. Seuss. RantWoman, though, would not rescind the recognition.

At Princeton there is also a tradition of a speech in Latin by the salutatorian. RantWoman remembers there were laugh lines even for graduates not fluent in Latin. RantWoman would not be distressed if this year's Latin salutatorian speech were about Gaza but considers that unlikely.

Now, some clips brought to us by a YouTube Channel called The Bitchuation Room. RantWoman loves the channel. 

PS. RantWoman has taken up many feminist issues, but does not mind not having a degree in "Post colonial feminist theory."

WTBBL neds HELP! GiveBig Tuesday May 6-7

Get That Giving Feeling May 6-7

Help Keep WTBBL’s Services Alive The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL) is facing a serious budget crisis. With unstable state and federal funding, our ability to provide accessible library services is currently at risk. Any efficient and effective agency, like WTBBL, plans far into the future for the resources needed to seamlessly provide up-to-date and plentiful support and reading materials to Washington residents unable to read standard print. However, these recent funding losses were never anticipated and are creating an immediate and severe risk to WTBBL’s survival as the service people have come to know and count on. WTBBL is the only library in Washington offering free audio and braille books and magazines—by mail and download—to individuals who have: Blindness or DeafBlindness Low vision Physical disability that makes it difficult to hold a book or turn a page Reading disability For many, WTBBL is more than a library, it’s a lifeline. We’re participating in GiveBIG 2025 to raise $50,000 to keep these essential services available. Early giving is now open, and more than ever, we need your support. Please click the Donate Now below button to share your support to keep WTBBL’s services accessible to all. Donate Now

Thank you for standing with us and helping to ensure that All May Read.

Demand the FULL podcast: Michelle Obama edition

Michelle Obama: This Is A Scam! People Were Running From Us Because We W...

Former First Lady Michelle Obama probably does not need RantWoman to stand up for her. Thanks, though, to Elon's sandbox and one of RantWoman's X contacts who definitely thinks differently than RantWoman, RantWoman's Sunday has been blessed with a window into the #MAGA infoverse.  Reminder: this is the same infoverse that for years has been proclaiming Michelle a man, based solely on Michelle in one of her podcasts phrasing a question to a Black Man she was interviewing "As a black man, (what do you think...?"

In today's moment, well into the video below, Michelle speaks about how it's expensive to live in the White house and the family is expected to pay for every bite of food and their daughters' plane fares when they travelled with Michelle on her plane, not with their dad on Air Force One. Michelle goes on to talk further about how having young kids in the White House does not happen with every President and how much she had to put her foot down to make space for her family.

Because the venue of RantWoman's initial encounter with this topic was X and the clip only showed the short comment about the cost of being President, the replies and quote tweets (sorry Elon, not sorry about word choice) were all about people frothing at the mouth about how out of touch Michelle is compared to everyone else's realities.

RantWoman wanted to scream and demanded from her X correspondent a link. RantWoman still had to do a bit of search on her own, but OH LOOK. Michelle grew up in a two-room apartment in an aun't house. Her dad had a disability and a career as a civil servant. People who can't handle people, on the strength of their own hard work and striving plus a few book contracts, starting from this kind of modest beginning, paying off law school debts, and now being able to afford several properties just need to get over themselves! Maybe listen to the full arc of Michelle and Barak's lives, choices they made in service to the country and stop participating in mindless smears!

There. End of Rant, for now.

Now please appreciate all that there is to appreciate in this video..

PS. One of RantWoman's favorite quotes, paraphrased: "We are being led by people who have not found their best selves."

Something different about tariffs.

Trump Tariffs, Trade War & the UN's International Maritime Organization ...

RantWoman has become a big fan of the "What's going on with shipping." Youtube channel.

IN this case, about minute 10 and forward there is great commentary about carbon reduction targets, the International Maritime Organization, and China's growing share of the global shipbuilding industry.

And 

Tariffs and Port Fees Talk with Ross Kennedy (The Huntsman) | Between Two Sterns

State Attorneys General and responsible law firms vs Elon and his DOGE boy hackers.

'Blatantly Unconstitutional!' How Trump CAN be legally STOPPED

RantWoman of late has been watching a lot of legal-themed YouTube channels, including a few that just get ranty, even by RantWoman's pro-rant standards. This channel and this video go on RantWoman's list to come back to.

As an aside, RantWoman has decided a number of times not to go to law school. Nothing is making her rethink that decision but it has shaped comments she might offer if someone she knew where thinking of a career in law.

Malaysia: not what this creator expected

RantWoman is posting this item for the following reasons:

There is a whole genre of young exiled Russian social media creators out experiencing the world while they work very hard not to get fed into the Russian meat grinder in Ukraine. Leave the meat grinder to North Korea?

There are some great comments about public transit in Kampala Lumpor

Finally, RantWoman is a bit of a foodie, as in RantWoman currently uses videos involving food to help relax even when the intentions either to make the food presented or to journey to places where the food is common are on RantWoman's long "mean to do maybe someday." 

Enjoy.

Eagle S Seized by Finland for Severing Cables Between Finland & Estonia

For readers who are not total shipping nerds, some key points:

--The Baltic sea is full of undersea power and communications cables as well as pipelines.

--There have been a series of anchor drags and other ways to damage these vital pieces of infrastructure.

--The cable drags can be partially explained by vessel age and poor maintenance, but geopolitics also enters the picture.

This YouTube channel is a massive resource for shipping and maritime vocabulary.

Lloyd's list article about spy equipment found on board the Eagle S with links about other cable drags

AI Writes a Lines on Maps Video: Why Russia and Finland Will Go to War

Wherein one of RantWoman's go to resources about war and #Russia asks ChatGPT to write a video discussing a potential war between Russia and #Finland

Comedian Reacts to Luigi Terror Charge

Aside from the topic, this item has a whole raft of Gen-Z vocabulary.

Judge Michael Luttig: Only Kamala Harris can be trusted to honor the peaceful transfer of power.

RantWoman has decided not to go to law school.

RantWoman keeps revisiting but not regretting that decision.

That said, two lawyer heroes of the day are Marc E Elias of Democracy Docket and Judge Michael Luttig.

Look here for ways to find more of them.

RantWoman's comment, a TAD off topic of this exact video:

All these legal arguments matter. And #DelusionalDonOld is a danger to himself and others. At this point, even though I hated the "LockHerUp" chants about Hillary, I think it's time to contain this dementia patient under mental health grounds. I know this is a controversial view. I can live with that opinion.

Democracy Docket with Jamie Raskin on what could come next

10 Strange American Accents You May NEVER Hear Again

Random item of interest from the blog as electronic scrapbook model of blogging.

RantWoman sincerely hopes that the tides of AI related language standardization do not squash all the subtle regional variations of accents and speech patterns found across the US.

RantWoman is a casual grazer on YouTube, not the kind of linguistic academic who might for instance write whole dissertations about variations in speech patterns even in a single large city.

And yet, RantWoman is intrigued.

Post timed for attention in connection with the 2024 American Translators Association national convention

#ATA65

Discover Ambutech’s Full Range of Mobility Canes and Accessories! | Find...

Just in time for #WhiteCaneDay2024

2024 is the 60th anniversary of #WhiteCaneDay

Look for more reflections over the next few days as #WhiteCaneDay is observed in different places.

Please enjoy a whole bunch of white cane vocabulary.

Despite the esoteric terminology, there is plenty more info to be learned about cane travel. Just not tonight.

That was fast:alumni solicitations in 2024

 First RantWoman offers a shout-out and encouragement to every recent college graduate who might be even a little nervous just starting out a public school teaching job, especially a teaching job in one of the tiny rural communities that dot our nation's educational landscape.

RantWoman particularly offers such encouragement on behalf of RantDad. RantDad's first public school teaching job was teaching 7 study halls and band in a TINY town the interstate bypassed not far from Billings MT. The tiny town still exists and a couple years ago sent one of its son to a job trimming RantWoman's hair at Great Clips on Capital Hill. Back to Rant Dad: his calling just out of college was bassoonist in the Billings Symphony. It's just that the study halls and band gig ensured that RantDad would eat and live indoors.

RantWoman wishes to thank the alumni association from RantDad's alma mater for this mental excursion. Today, much to RantMom's surprise, she received an alumni association fundraising letter. Understand, RantDad passed away 29 years ago. RantMom also recently moved and was marveling at the fact that the letter came with her name on it to her new address. In other words, whatever data refresh the alumni association uses is pretty dang efficient.

RantMom was perplexed and a little opinionated. RantWoman is less surprised than if RantMom were receiving alumni solicitations from somewhere neither of the Rant parents attended. Besides this year RantDad would turn 90 if he were still alive. So is that the occasion?

Because this is the internet:

U of WY Alumni Association

Cultural artifact

U of WY alumni songs

and because of other connections

The Laramie chapter of Health Equity Circle

Rep. Adam Smith hosts Government Jobs Fair Saturday August 17

 RantWoman is already triple-booked on August 17 but is shamelessly reprinting this announcement in case it is of interest to others.

Home Issues Legislation Services

Dear Friend, I am excited to share that my office is hosting a Government Jobs Fair on Saturday, August 17th to connect my constituents with government job opportunities on the federal, state, and local levels. This will include federal, state, and local agencies, as well as elected offices, school districts, library systems, law enforcement, and more. Job opportunities will be in various industries, ranging from positions in technology and research to public affairs and human resources. There will also be positions available at various experience levels, including: Internships for college/graduate students Entry level positions for those entering the workforce Advanced career positions for those with prior work experience There will also be workforce development organizations present to assist potential applicants with their resumes and other job preparation services. Event Information Date/Time: Saturday, August 17, 2024 | 11:00am-1:00pm PT Location: Highline College Building 8 (Student Union Building) | 2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198 Parking: Free parking in Highline College parking lots Snacks and drinks will be provided

Sincerely,       Adam Smith Member of Congress

P.S. What did you think of this email update? Your input helps me better represent you in our nation's capital. Please click one of the options below to take my quick feedback survey and sign up for updates on how I’m working for you.  I liked it. Thank you for your message! Sorry, I thought it could be better. Other: Not sure/I have a suggestion. Remember, if you ever need help right away with the federal government – anything from backlogged veterans’ benefits to stalled tax refunds – please contact my office in Renton at (425) 793-5180. You’re also always welcome to contact my office to share your concerns on any issue.

How the US looks to Polish state TV" Kamala Harris – the natural candidate to run in place of Joe Biden

Another TVP World Segment