Serious realism to take seriously about travel in Iceland

 

Bad Bunny's Halftime show nominated for multiple Emmys

 

Is the US a Maritime Power

 Another great item from What's Going On with Shipping.

Impressive history lesson, great book recommendations.

--Are the books still in print?

--Are they available in accessible formats?

WHO KNOWS. But the book list is here for anyone ready to find out.

A really great way to come at #America250

World Cup Cringe, small town warmth, and the COOL things about the US team

 #FIFAQorldCup #CopaMundial

And a rave

Trump FURIOUS as USMNT Defies his ADMINISTRATION’S WISHES!!!

Yes! A summer bus route from Ballard to Golden Gardens

#NonDriver #KingCountyMetro #GoldenGardens 

RantWoman has once or twice walked from Golden Gardens south to Ballard. Not in a few years.

RantWoman is THRILLED to read this summer bus. RantWoman will check to see whether her ORCA Card and bus pass work to pay the fare, but RantWoman is THRILLED. 

Stay tuned for more raves.

WTBBL to re-open to the Public June 22, 2026!

The WA Talking Book and Braille wtbbl.org will reopen to the public on Monday June 22, 2026!

 

Anyone with a print, physical, or reading disability can now call the WTBBL main number and a staff member will fill out an application for service, and they will be instantly certified for all services by the person taking the application. It is not necessary to have a doctor or someone else sign off for you any more. This seriously lowers the barriers to access to Braille and digital talking books. The National Library Service is working on an online form to simplify this process as well.

 

In other news: There are 40 episodes available in their Literary Notes podcast, and transcripts are being added.

Due to the Marrakesh treaty, people from many other countries are downloading Washington produced books, and we now have access to tens of thousands of books recorded by other services from all over the world.

The assistive technology specialist at the library Dusty will be on leave till sometime in August, but many resources are available to fill that gap.

700 books are currently in production in the audio department, and over 200 in the Braile department.

If you have digital players and aren’t using them, please return them  to the library so that others may enjoy them.

And state librarian Sarah Jones is retiring. She will continue as a volunteer to advocate with the legislature for stable state funding for our library system.

Friends of WTBBL and the All Foundation are fud raising sources for the library if people want to get more involved.

For more information on any of these topics, call WTBBL: (206) 615-0400

News Digested

 #ICE #ObamaPresidentialCenter 

RantWoman runs hot and cold about different channels. Sometimes RantWoman loses patience with Adam Kinzinger for being earnest and bland. Sometimes RantWoman appreciates concise frankness which allows her to go full rant without having to slog through someone else's rant fog. Today is one of the latter days. Enjoy.

Iceland!

 RantWoman just spent a day out in the SUN in Seattle.

The temperature is well above the threshold where locals start to moan piteously about the heat while people who hail from more consistently warm climes start to think things are gjust right. Most of all it is far too early for every blade of grass to be as dry as it was for a local #Juneteenth festival.

So why not instead consider ICELAND?

Enjoy

Celebrating the opening of the Obama Presidential Center

Actual grand opening set for #Juneteenth

 One of the things RantWoman has noticed in run up publicity to the center's opening is all the rooms named after other people.

Obama Center Opens As A Permanent Home For Hope On Chicago’s South Side

EXCLUSIVE: The Obama Presidential Center: A sneak peek inside the state-of-the-art facility

And from the Lego corps

Michelle Obama's SAVAGE Speech Shadows Trump at Obama Center Opening | Iran Lego Animation

Good Trouble on behalf of the Kennedy Center

 

Aside from the clear statements in this post, judges probably do not have a way to ruling about karma. RantWoman has just said from Day 1 of President #StableGenius assault on the Kennedy Center: #DonSnoreleone is messing with seriously bad karma. After 3 apparent assassination attemps, to RantWoman it seems like a REALLY DUMB idea to paste one's name on a landmark named for an assassinated president.

Warm wishes to this family

 

"When I was going through the adoption process, I [feared the judge would say] 'You're blind. I'm concerned about you being a parent,'" Deja said.

[The judge said] 'You are obviously a better mother than she could have ever hoped to have.'"

Listen: https://t.co/NOc6tqB6sI pic.twitter.com/ZfQJYSnxvG

— National Federation of the Blind (@NFB_voice) June 11, 2026

How to or not to pack for Iceland

 Iceland

RantWoman already did one post about clothing for a trip to Iceland and the topic is important enough to hit again, with a couple RantWoman specific notes

RantWoman has been having fun imagining personas, people / market segments who might jump at a chance for an impromptu summer trip to Iceland. People from hot climates. People who work in tech or call centers or are at least middle class.

It's about 60 degrees F in Seattle today. It is a temperature where transplants from cold climates are already in shorts and transplants from warmer climates are still wearing layers. The sun is glorious so no frets for today about water resistance though that is a perpetual theme in Seattle and , RantWoman imagines, in Iceland.

This video is a FUN way to look at the practical problem of how to pack--or what to plan on renting on arrival.

RantWoman assumes a lot of the same packing principles apply to guys and there are probably videos with more gender specific tips out there.

Not that RantWoman herself has a lot of ski gear, but are there reasons that ski gear would not be good options?

The other thing RantWoman would have to contend with: RantWoman wears glasses. Contacts are not an option and neither is going without. RantWoman favors broad-brimmed hats to protect against glare and to channel wind away from her face. A lot of wind in RantWoman's face or eyes just does not sound like fun. So if RantWoman were actually going to Iceland, RantWoman might start by looking into the specifics of ski googles over her regular glasses.

What To Wear In Iceland In Summer

Note: Helmets or boots with ankle support may be required for some tours

Never hike on glaciers without a guide.

Waterproof sandals!

Eyeshades because of midnight sun

sunglasses

Dressing for Iceland.

 

15 Ways Tourists Waste Money in Iceland: Do THIS Instead

And for winter

What to wear in Iceland in January: Local tips from an Icelander

Layers.

Waterproof and windproof outer layer.

Renting gear is an option, at least for people in regular size ranges.

Also useful to know the weather alert scale and the readings where booked day trips might get

 cancelled.

Iceland Winter Packing Guide: EXACTLY What to Wear!

What to Pack for Winter in Iceland

ICELAND PACKING | 5 shoes you need for your trip!

Two houses in Iceland

 Lately RantWoman has gotten interested in construction techniques and other strategies for surviving COLD climates.

Here, one old, traditional, and one modern.

A German living in Iceland

Transit Corridors Ride Along Saturday May 30.

 Just to advertise RantWoman's transportation and sustainability cred, a cool sounding event that RantWoman will miss because of a conflict.

Apologies for the formatting peculiarities. One of these days RantWoman will either learn how to fix herself or get monetized enough to hire someone to help.

In the meantime, this excursion is Saturday and should be informative

Join us this weekend for a Transit Corridors Ride-Along!

 

Howdy  BEEP BEEP! The Complete Communities Coalition is bussing around Seattle with City Leadership and we’re coming to a neighborhood center near you. On Saturday, May 30th, the CCC will be heading to every district in the City where we’ll chat about transit corridors, our comprehensive plan, and more. Starting at 9:30am in West Seattle and ending in Queen Anne at 6pm, we’re excited to tour around Seattle and dream big for a more affordable, transit friendly, and vibrant city. Join us at your district’s stop and learn about how we can help move our city into brighter direction! Join us! Bus Tour Schedule District 1 (9:30am-10:05am) QED Coffee, 6080 35th Ave SW. District 2 (10:45am-11:20am) Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave S.  District 3 (12pm-12:45pm) Madison Pagliaccis, 3015 E Madison St. District 4 (1:30pm-2pm) Armistice Coffee, 6717 Roosevelt Way NE. District 5 (2:45pm-3:20pm) Broadview Diva Espresso, 10555 Greenwood Ave N. District 6 (3:55pm-4:25pm) Chess Park/Heart of Phinney Park, 6532 Phinney Ave N. District 7 (5:30pm-6pm) Sully's Bar, 1625 Queen Anne Ave N.  Thank you for being a part of this journey with us and supporting more housing across our amazing city!    In Solidarity, Jazmine Smith Director of Local Advocacy

Princeton Baccalaureate and Graduation 2026

 

RantWoman paid embarassingly little attenttion to the speech at her own graduation and is not even sure she attended Baccalaureat. To compensate for that, and to appreciate this year's offerings:

"In a world that is increasingly loud and self-focused, being the person who 'sets the screen' is a superpower. It’s easy to be the person with the ball; it’s much harder, and much more rewarding, to be the person who creates the space for someone else to score. Whether you end… pic.twitter.com/3AHwsyTIxv

— Princeton University (@Princeton) May 24, 2026

Full text of remarks.
At Baccalaureate, Craig Robinson '83 urges seniors: 'Be a work in progress'

As for commencement:

At #Princeton26 Commencement, President Eisgruber called on graduating students to have the courage to confront challenges and stand up for the values of learning, independent thinking and integrity that higher education institutions like Princeton hold dear.

“I know that all… pic.twitter.com/814ZYKieh3

— Princeton University (@Princeton) May 26, 2026

Full text of speech, WITH FOOTNOTES, as well as links about other graduation events.

President Eisgruber's Commencement address: 'Learning, Citizenship, and the Courage to Be Unpopular'

RantWoman is going to let all these words stand on their own. 

RantWoman finds it easy to hear these words as "make good trouble." That gross oversimplification is unfair to all the challenges of being President of Princeton at this time, so RantWoman promises to go full rant separately.

For graduation 2026 Gratefully reprinting verbatim testimonies about Princeton

RantWoman heartily congratulates this year's graduates. RantWoman has LOTS of other opinions that deserve their own space another time. 

Photo montage of alumni at Reunions

As Princetonians of all ages prepare to celebrate Reunions and Commencement over the next week, we give three cheers for the University’s generous financial aid program, which enables students, regardless of financial circumstances, to embrace the power and possibility of a Princeton education. And don’t forget that the impact of Princeton aid lasts far beyond graduation, as nearly 90% of students graduate debt-free, freeing them to pursue lives of leadership and service without worries about loan payments.

Opportunity. Possibility. Empowering. University students share what “Princeton is” to them and how the University has opened doors and inspired them to become leaders prepared to stand up for what they believe.

Financial aid opens doors

Left to right: Matthew Trotter ’22, Autumn Shelton ’24, and Taraje Whitfield ’22

Matthew Trotter ’22: An “unparalleled” financial aid package makes a dream a reality Matthew Trotter grew up in Union Dale, Pennsylvania, population 239. “Everyone knows each other and helps each other. But at the same time, there’s not always a lot of opportunity for people to live out their dreams.” The imposing costs of college loomed over Trotter’s own dreams until he received a “yes” from Princeton. “I accepted as soon as I saw the financial aid package. The package that I was given was unparalleled — it gave me momentum to follow my dreams.” Four years after Princeton, Trotter graduated from Sidney Kimmel Medical College and will soon begin his family medicine residency near Philadelphia. “Through the doors opened for me by Princeton, I look forward to helping serve the community as a doctor,” he said. Autumn Shelton ’24: A heart for service in rural America Autumn Shelton grew up in Lamar, Missouri, a small town in the southwestern part of the state. She hadn’t considered applying to Princeton until visiting for an arts and humanities seminar during her senior year. Her time at the University inspired a passion to serve humanity, particularly in rural areas like Lamar. “I realize how unique and important my hometown and culture are, and I want to go back to rural America and be one of the people who are working to protect it and make it better.” After graduation, Shelton joined the staff at Camp McDowell in Alabama where she farms and teaches children hands-on agricultural skills. She plans to start law school in the fall and return to rural America following graduation. Taraje Whitfield ’22: A first-generation college student paves the way for his family A varsity athlete from Millersville, Pennsylvania, Taraje Whitfield overcame the complications of remote learning during the pandemic, not only maintaining his studies online, but also supervising and tutoring his youngest siblings. “I helped them out a lot growing up, and now it brings me so much joy to hear them talk about wanting to go to Princeton when they grow up. I haven’t had anyone in my family that I could go to for counsel about college, but I think it’s a huge blessing that I could be the person who paves the way for a new standard where college is normal for the generations of family behind me.” Since graduating in 2022, Whitfield earned a master’s in biomedical science at the University of Connecticut and is finishing his first year in the Medical Scientist Training Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he was elected class president. “Princeton played a major role in my getting to where I am now, and I will forever be grateful to the University for its support of me, and the doors it opened.”

WORTH       SHARING Most families with incomes up to $150,000/year will pay nothing for their student to attend Princeton — with tuition, housing, food, books and other expenses covered. Most making up to $250,000 pay no tuition.

You say Goodbye. I say Hello. Singing Colbert out of Late Night.

#LateShow #StephenColbert

"We're Live, And We Sound Good Man" - Paul McCartney On The Beatles Playing The Ed Sullivan Show

The penultimate show

Stephen Colbert Takes The Colbert Questionert - EXTENDED SEGMENT

"Streets of Minneapolis" - Bruce Springsteen (LIVE on The Late Show)

And before that.

"It's The Best" - Jon Stewart On Losing A Late Night Show, And The Joyful Noise That Is Coming

Empathy Is The Ultimate Superpower In Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day"

"Burning Down The House" - David Byrne feat. Stephen Colbert (LIVE on The Late Show)

Stephen Colbert tells the story of when he knew his wife Evie was the one + Evie's cameo on the show

The Dark side of Iceland? You mean besides long winter nights?

 Iceland 

Today RantWoman is displacing an urge to go off on all kinds of daily news topics toward ...Iceland videos.  Before you click, RantWoman loves this narrator's voice for resonance with darkness but RantWoman HAS OPINIONS about some of the topics.

A plunge into the shadows? A dance with the supernatural? YES! Not just endless hikes and gorgeous natural vistas? History! Myth! Yes! Bring it on.

Limited Product availability?

Fair warning, but Icelanders are by all accounts quite happy even without the level of frenetic consumerism possible in other places. Honestly, plan ahead but readers who cannot live without every little thing on hand and deliverable within 3 hours at a click of an Amazon order might want to consider whether Iceland is the destination for you. 

RantWoman on the other hand might need to grapple with some clothing size concerns before travel but would be THRILLED not even to have to think about rampant consumerism for a whole vacation. RantWoman is also happy to practice just COPING. Wouldn't RantWoman be a FUN traveling companion?

You can't disappear into a crowd.

Cue Jason Aldean's "Try that in a small town" and every reaction video on the internet. Also triple bonus reminder NOT just to act like an ignorant clueless tourist.

The WEATHER: well documented. Highly variable. Dress in layers and always make sure to have a water and windproof outer layer. RantWoman lives in Seattle where people have been known to wear parkas for the Fourth of July and where every spring and fall means a dance of how many and which layers for the sweet spot of both temperature control and water resistance. So RantWoman thinks preparing sounds manageable. 

RantWoman has also lived in enough snowy places to be REALLY firm about learning abou snow driving before trying to drive in Iceland. Visitors from, say, places where temperature are above 30degrees C all summer should definitely take note of both weather concerns and driving issues covered extensively elsewhere.

Fashion trends: a lot of people wind up chasing the same item or consumer goods. Oh well. Have fun about it or about sticking out if that happens.

Beer was banned until 1989

Fun history of wine and beer. RantWoman is wondering what the Vikings drank?

No TV on Thursdays AND in July

Ask about the history of TV in Iceland. Don't just plug into a "glowing box" for a YouTube fix.

Dogs were forbidden in the capital

Working dogs are one thing.

As a measure to prevent tapeworm

But Reykjavik is cat city!

A doctor who previously recovered from Ebola and others speak about the current Ebola outbreak

#Ebola #DRC #Uganda 

DRC Ebola outbreak 'way bigger that what we see now', virologist says • FRANCE 24 English

Main transmission related to funerals and caregiver including health care workers.

Is Ebola a global threat? | DW News

As WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency, Did USAID Cuts Worsen the Crisis?

"We learned too much too quickly to be anything but concerned."

ravages of measles, hantavirus, Ebola because of DOGE.

Ebola outbreak could be getting out control amid aid cuts, says frontline doctor

US AND other countries health care cuts contribute to environment.

How worried should we be about the Ebola "emergency"? | Global News Podcast

WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DRC 'rampant for weeks' as response faces funding shortfall

'This has me very concerned': Doctor issues stark warning about new Ebola outbreak

88 dead as new Ebola outbreak spreads to second African country

Global National: May 18, 2026 | Congo, Uganda racing to contain deadly Ebola outbreak