Iceland Iceland and IcelandAir bad Photographer Contest

The daily trees photo

Iceland Iceland

Land of volcanoes that can eat small villages and occasionally disrupt global air travel. Sobering to think of that in this the year of our Lord 2026 when all global energy prices are through the roof. 

Thanks to RantWoman's volcano video habit, YouTube has previously sent RantWoman assorted tourism themed videos. Based on these videos, RantWoman has formed the impression that Iceland is very interesting geologically and if one wants to chase the aurora borealis. Also, nature is gorgeous but experiencing it can be challenging.  The weather is to put it diplomatically unpredictable. And travel is EXPENSIVE. 

Part of RantWoman's fun has been elaborating and adjusting that impression as well, repeatedly, as asking Google / Gemini questions and coming back with answers that keep RantWoman coming back for more and even thinking about how travel to Iceland can be affordable for many categories of travelers. More in a moment, in a few cases just RantWoman's queries replicated for readers to do their own next steps.

Land of many summits of world leaders. RantWoman is the kind of nerd tourist who might go to and even enthusiastically participate in a half day or even a full day opportunity to replay one of the summits held in Rekjavik. RantWoman has not gone looking to see for sure whether such a tourist attraction might exist but would seriously consider participating in it if it existed.

Land of many churches interesting to photograph, not just the famous tall one in Rekjavik.

what churches can one visit in iceland - Google Search

 Land of lots of hot springs and geothermal energy. Lots of the videos talk about people renting cars to travel independently. If RantWoman is travelling alone, renting a car or even a camper is not really an option. Global fuel prices are forecast to stay high for quite a while so RantWoman has wondered about but not researched, what is the electric vehicle scene like in Iceland. Is there geothermal electricity generation? Is that ubiquitous enough that people could simply plug cars in at every stop and charge without needing special charging stations? Is this whole paragraph just a dream that might need to be more fully realized

Land where one can't name their child Harriet? The short answer: a concept near to RantWoman's language nerd hear, to wit noun declension.

why can t you name your child harriet in iceland - Google Search

Icelandic girls can't be called Harriet, government tells family | Iceland | The Guardian

Iceland parents told children cannot be called Harriet or Duncan because they are not government approved names | The Independent | The Independent

Icelandic Naming Committee - Wikipedia

RantWoman did it. RantWoman submitted a VERY barebones video entry saying basically, RantWoman has a lot to say and cramming it all into a one-minute video is not happening so please check out this blog. RantWoman is having fun thinking about this contest. That is the main thing.

PS. There is a question in the application form about how comfortable one is being on camera. RantWoman can manage. RantWoman has other thoughts about whether one is supposed to be good or bad at social media in general, but the application does not ask that.

Stay tuned for some of RantWoman's favorite YouTube channels.

Again with the IcelandAir really bad photographer contest: some requirements!

A very sunny day

Really bad photographer | Icelandair US 

The basic gig: 10 days of travel all travel expenses paid with $50,000 to cover, as RantWoman understands it, gear and whatever one needs for a trip.

For more detail about the gig: 

This is who we're seeking:

• You must be able to take part in physical outdoor activities and adventures
• You must be comfortable hiking and navigating uneven terrain in spectacular landscapes

M'kayyy RantWoman has the impression there is plenty to do in Iceland for people with different levels of tolerance for physical activity, but um...

RantWoman has never had the body to, say, work as an underwear model. RantWoman has grey hair and arthritis that comes and goes. In other words, RantWoman is in a NOT QUITE senior citizen demographic that may or may not be the best fit for what is needed. But every time RantWoman hits something that might talk herself out of even applying, amother voice comes up and says just apply and see...

So to make this trip work, RantWoman might need to think about how to have a trainer or a massage practitioner on speed dial. RantWoman also imagines that well broken-in shoes will be a must.

The initial application does not mention anything like overnight camping. If that is on the agenda RantWoman is going to need some kind of solar powered battery to support a number of devices.

Spectacular landscapes sound glorious. RantWoman also has enough vision and has lived around enough mountains to be really interested in the task of writing good alt text or creating meaningful tactile representations of gorgeous views.

Another fun thing: RantWoman is poking around for some background. Simple well-behaved websites are making RantWoman SO happy.

Will RantWoman actually apply...or will RantWoman just go for more vicarious online experience...?

Stay tuned and in the meantime, check out the video and channel linked below.

ICELAND TRAVEL TIPS FOR 1ST TIMERS | 40+ Must-Knows Before Visiting + What NOT to Do!

But, but, do blind people really do photography? Sure. Now take me to the volcanoes

Which details
are not in the Alt text and / or
should just be cropped

 

Still a few days left to enter the IcelandAir "Really bad photographer" contest, and RantWoman is trying to demonstrate unique skills.

RantWoman again encourages everyone who might be intrigued or even just slightly interested to read the contest guidelines.

Really bad photographer | Icelandair US

But, but RantWoman keeps talking about vision loss and accessibility mixed in with bad photography commentary.

Yep. Plenty of visually impaired and blind people are very interested in photography, both as a craft and as something essential for documenting  realities of daily life that Need To Be Dealt with. Lots of people in the blindness community get very good at describing our wildly varying visual experiences. Readers who need some RantWoman perspective, please consider checking out the Death By Powerpoint topics.

But, But this adventure sounds like it might involve a lot of outdoor activity and Ambassador Thwack the Badly Behaved White Cane and Anger management consultant has a thing or two to say.

Thwack may have a thing or two to say but RantWoman is in charge. Would RantWoman pursue some sighted guide options? Will RantWoman rely on AI or call-in services? RantWoman will be interested to know what is available in Iceland. Plus, RantWoman wonders how much choice a person will have about where to visit....

RantWoman, do you actually know anyone in Iceland?

RantWoman does not know anyone in Iceland but does know a very wise accessibility hero originally from Iceland. RantWoman met this person a long time ago at the sort of mentoring event where people with different life timeliness and blindness experiences get together to network, share perspectives.

These days, RantWoman encounters this person from Iceland on the internet. He turns up in online demos of people using screen readers, text to speech tools that enable blind users to navigate around the Internet, or at least to do so better than without screen readers. One reality of screen reader use is the playback speed of the speech. RantWoman tends to fall asleep when listening too long to normal speed screen reader speech and runs her own screen reader quiite a bit faster. However, many blind people working in tech or finance can be found on the internet demonstrating screen reader speeds a lot faster than RantWoman.

Please note: a screen reader is not the only thing necessary for online accessibility: websites, apps, portals all need to be developed with some standard features to ensure that screen reader users can find and operate the same functions as other users, some of whom might have other accessibility concerns. The people and organizations who do this right are truly accessibility heroes.

The real reason RantWoman considers this acquaintance a hero: RantWoman's most recent Google search turned up a LinkedIn profile showing a job at a large financial services organization and lots of  connections to other names widely recognized in the online accessibility world. These are the people who not only persist in their work in their own organizations but also insure that organizational websites work for the likes of RantWoman who just wants things to work so she can do other things sighted people take for granted, in this case including managing whatever earnings there will be for 10 days of work after one figures out what all expenses to take on to make the trip a success.

And for fun some erupting volcano videos for different perspective than the pacific coast subduction zone

25 million M3 of Magma on Hold by Grindavik - Earthquakes in South Iceland

Iceland Magma Is Primed, But When Will It Erupt? Geologist Analysis

Iceland Is On Fire

Iceland: Fourth and strongest volcanic eruption in three months | DW News

Dear Gemini. Under NO circumstances EVER summarize email without permission.

RantWoman  HOPES there is some info in a privacy statement that will allow RantWoman to TURN OFF automatic summarization in Gmail. RantWoman is too gravely peeved and tired from personal emotional matters to go read it right now and, hell, DEMANDS option to OPT IN rather than have to read redundant and stupid verbiage longer than the original AND the response.

One Asterisk in this rant: RantWoman corresponds with TOO DANG MANY people who CANNOT CHANGE THE SUBJECT line with a new thread enters a conversation. RantWoman might really like to experiment about whether an AI can sort out the tangled threads and then present group messages by thread for RantWoman to review.

There. MAYBE RantWoman will get the privacy statement read soon.

Get this lady some taxi scrip?

RantWoman is playing crash test dummy checking out the process to apply for taxi scrip as administered by Metro. RantWoman recently learned that, although her income has been looking tup, she probably qualifies for Taxi scrip for those transportation moments when the bus won't do and travel is needed within King County.

Understand, RantWoman REALLY likes the bus for being easy to get on and off, for leg room, and for some level of adventure if, for instance, RantWoman is venturing to a part of the county she does not know well, and of course for modest physical exercise. RantWoman does like the idea of taxi scrip not expiring so RantWoman can have some on hand if needed and not have to worry about it expiring.

1. a search string for the Google or copilot, RantWoman does not remember which

King County Metro taxi scrip

RantWoman has in mind a nice path to an application even though RantWoman did not specify that in her search string. Instead RantWoman got a whole paragraph full of information she already knows. RantWoman lives in King County. RantWoman is definitely over 18. RantWoman qualifies according to the household income table she found a couple steps down.

2. Because of a recent software update on the computer RantWoman is using, some stupid message asking me which ads RantWoman finds most annoying--besides the stupid question when RantWoman is on a mission. 

3. Redo the search adding "application form" to the search string

Noodle around with a bunch of "people also asked" suggestions and god knows what, especially since RantWoman tends to try bad eyes first and then remember to tab around and / or do a links list.

4. Behold: a bare minimum form to apply. Form requests RantWoman's name and contact info. Form does not ask whether RantWoman already has a Regional Reduced fare permit though RantWoman does. The form just asks for contact info and promises a response. 

5. RantWoman notices a list of cab companies that will accept taxi scrip. RantWoman will come back to the list depending on a couple aspects of experience. RantWoman does not expect to use taxi scrip very often. RantWoman also notes that taxi scrip comes as paper that works like money except that cab drivers have to submit the paper for payment. RantWoman has heard that cab drivers are sometimes reluctant to deal with taxi scrip because of the processing time. 

Here RantWoman is going to acknowledge that paying cash for paper probably is really important for some riders. HOWEVER, RantWoman also fantasizes about either an app, maybe like the app that allows RantWoman to pay for laundry or a refillable debit card, perhaps like RantWoman's ORCA card. The card would need to work for drivers who accept credit / Debit cards and Rant Woman would like to know her taxi scrip balance. Okay, it;s a fantasy...

Elapsed time to step through the hoops and write a blog post, plus or minus a couple distractions 45 minutes but the task would get easier if done regularly.

Spidey on Erika Kirk

This YouTube channel fascinates RantWoman. 

RantWoman definitely does not look at entire videos in full detail. RantWoman tends to listen and only occasionally invest enough eye focus to see detail.

So the channel is fascinating because it spells out a LOT of things that are happening visually. Sometimes it feels like reason 320 zillion why blind people and sighted people miscommunicate, although RantWoman could be vaguely interested in seeing how much of the same info could be picked up by voice.

First, this video points out lots of visual specifics in Erika's speech at Charlie Kirk's funeral.

What Changed With Erika Kirk? Body Language Analyst Reacts to funeral

YouTube is full of opinions about whether Erika Kirk is grieving appropriately. RantWoman would just leave the poor woman alone. RantWoman's experience with grief is that it comes and goes unpredictably for a long time. 

As far as the state of national dialog about Charlie's death:

--RantWoman was part of a conversation where one participant made the fascinating point that it doesn't matter that lots of Charlie's detractors are disgusted by #MAGA comparisons between Charlie Kirk and MLK. What matters is that is how Kirk's followers see him.

--In that conversation, RantWoman pointed out that MLK never helped raise millions of dollars to help elect a corrupt pedophile as President. It will take some maneuvering to keep the gravy train running but the other question is what messaging will remind people that their presence in the national conversation is valuable as they HOPEFULLY come to grips with some disagreeable realities.

--Apparently #SecDef Pete Hegseth is terribly shaken by Kirk's assassination.

Somewhere in this line of thinking MIGHT be some threads Erika Kirk is thinking about.

RantWoman does not share Erika's theological certainty about what happens after death. RantWoman has enough faith not to worry about that until she gets there. RantWoman remembers one family hiccup after RantDad passed away about cremation. RantDad's younger sister was worried that if RantDad were cremated, he would somehow miss out on the Rapture. RantWoman's view: any deity that can pull off the Rapture can give people whatever corporeal presence they need for the situation.

RantWoman is interested in one moment in particular, the clip in the post here right at the beginning of her speech when the President summons her to the stage.

Adventures of RantWoman: President #Gropesaurus and Erika

The way the President summoned Erika creeped RantWoman out a little bit because of something about the President's voice. Erika strode out like someone used to the kind of summons that bothered RantWoman Erika won Miss Arizona in a beauty pageant run by the not-yet-President and perhaps is used to the kind of kiss on two cheeks that Spidey called out.

Something in the second video, from a different angle made RantWoman wonder about a really gross possibility. RantWoman just naturally assumes the President is a pervy lech who will grab every chance he gets to paw at beautiful women. Watching the President Embrace, RantWoman wondered whether there was some over-the-line pawing going on. Even worse, RantWoman found herself wondering whether the President tried to kiss Erika on the lips rather than on the cheeks. RantWoman can't really tell, but the question adds a possible interpretation. Did Erika pull away a little and bury her face in the President's shoulder far away from his lips.

All of this gets RantWoman to another #TPUSA irony: TPUSA preaches "tradwife" values about women's relationships with their husbands. But Erika has now become the head of the entire #TPUSA empire.

This also harkens back to CO Congresswoman Lauren Boebert's appearances at TPUSA events. Lauren in her spiky heels and scary red lipstick pranced around talking about Biblical values in marriage while she was busy divorcing her husband. So THANGS are not always what they seem, and there is probably room for LOTS of people to think carefully about what matters to Gen Z.

Vocational Rehabilitation Services are a BIPARTISAN concern

 The Washington Council of the Blind (WCB) on behalf of its member, fully supports the following statement from the Washington State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind:

 

The Washington State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (SRCB) is an advisory group of volunteers, appointed by the Governor, who provide counsel and guidance to Department of the Services for the Blind (DSB). The committee reviews, evaluates, and recommends plans, policies, and activities to ensure that blind or visually disabled people in our state receive the most effective and efficient rehabilitation services possible.

 

We are sending you this letter regarding our concerns about the effect of the current Vocational Rehab (VR) funding cuts and how those cuts will affect Washington state residents who are served and supported by the DSB.

 

While the proposal includes $4.5 billion in mandatory funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants Program, the proposal also includes a Change in Mandatory Program (CHIMP) to reduce the post-sequester funding to $3.7 billion, aligning it with the FY 2024 enacted level. This would result in a significant cut to vocational rehabilitation grant programs.

Washington state will not have adequate state resources to make up for any lost federal funds. Our analysis of the impacts of this funding reduction is that we will have to place some or all applicants for vocational rehabilitation services on a waitlist to avoid overspending the budget.

 

In addition, the Department of Education budget proposal provides no funding for the following programs in FY 2026, and indicates that these services can be funded out of the already reduced Vocational Rehabilitation grant:

•             Client Assistance State Grants

•             Supported Employment State Grants

•             Training Program

•             Demonstration and Training Programs

•             Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Program

 

Because of the proposed budget cuts, the DSB will need to  implement a waitlist. This is a devastating decrease in support and services especially since applications to DSB for services have increased by 20% in the past year.

 

Having to wait for Vocational Rehab services can truly be detrimental to those who are ready for training.  The programs listed above as being affected by funding cuts are truly essential to someone who needs a complete rehabilitation experience.

 

The bottom line is that these programs need to be fully funded. Blind and low-vision residents of Washington state deserve these services to continue to be independent, fully functioning employed citizens.

 

Respectfully,

Andy Arvidson SRCB Chair and Washington Council of the Blind President

Above is the gentle version. Please allow RantWoman to weigh in.

1. Need for Rehabilitation services is BIPARTISAN.and the big supposedly wonderful bill passed very narrowly but Congress still has to finalize the FY 2026 budget. So Congressional representatives need to hear from the public NOW. It might or might not make a difference, but speaking up still matters. Speaking up any way one can matters especially for representatives who are avoiding town meetings and creating lots of burdens in order to contact them electronically.

2. Full disclosure: RantWoman definitely benefited from vocational rehabilitation services decades ago when midlife DNA lotto hit. RantWoman can tell from others accounts of their rehabilitation experience, that vocational rehabilitation services make enormouse contributions to blind people's ability to thrive in the US economy and to help others thrive.

Enough said?

Tsunami Advisory for Washington 8pm update: with place names and ETA

#tsunami

RantWoman definitely approves of this tsunami advisory report for one very important reason:

The report lists out loud estimated arrival times at different cities tonight. No squinting at impossible to interpret maps, just a nice clear explanation of how big the wave is expected to be, clear advice to avoid low lying areas for several hours, and assessment of the low likelihood of impact far into Puget Sound.

And here is a nice explanation of tsunami dynamics

Tsunami watch issued for Puget Sound area after magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia

Officials close Washington beaches as tsunami approaches

Prayer service????

Protest Curmudgeon erupts again, regarding the Christian rock performance and counter protest at Cal Anderson Park. The bottom of this rant has links to many of the sources RantWoman has interacted with.RantWoman apologizes for sometimes lacking precise citation and is trying to make clear which points are speculation and which are derived from long familiarity with the tiresome repetitiveness of protest dynamics in Seattle.

For background, RantWoman hails from a definitely open and affirming faith community and here is an example of a relevant statement.

Minute of Inclusion.pdf

RantWoman still has not connected with members of various faith communities who sent out an emergency email about an event later in the day. After hearing on Twitter / X about melees and arrest, RantWoman decided that bad eyes did not need to get mixed up in whatever was going on and that RantWoman needed to deal with mundane matters such as grocery shopping.

RantWoman believes strongly both in free exercise of religion and in religious pluralism. RantWoman just decided that social media is going to have to be her venue.

b-b-but RantWoman...

Yeah. RantWoman has skimmed the Mayday USA tour website, the website for the On Fire ministry. RantWoman is not sure we are reading the same bible, but does have, at least for Capitol Hill, a higher than average tolerance for diversity of religious messages.

Call RantWoman a cynic though: chances are pretty good that somewhere in the Mayday USA crowd there is someone struggling with their sexuality or their gender identity or some kind of abuse experience who might have caregivers completely unequipped to walk with someone, someone who might  DESPERATELY want some kind of emotional safety valve.

But No. NO! NO!

Nothing says safety for transgender youth like people sort of trying to speak up for transgender youth by just chanting "fascists go away," and getting tackled by police, by getting everyone drowned in pepper spray and raising questions about whether officers' body cams are even turned on.

B-b-but one of the Burner podcast staff was told that the praying group had rented the whole park.

Is this a thing? It's hard enough for people who live here to rent even one picnic shelter. How do people who bus in from out of town get to rent a whole park? RantWoman is also amused by a comment about a police officer telling a journalist just to pick a side. It's STILL A PUBLIC PARK.It's open worship with a come as you are message. Aren't people allowed just to come and watch?

B-b-but they weren't just watching.

Noted. Needs more investigation. 

Finally RantWoman has had enough recreational blood pressure elevation and is not going to delve too far into the background and religious witness of Mr. Ross Johnson, of Spokane's On Fire ministries, but RantWoman has one thing to say to him:

No. NO NO!

Dear Mr. Ross Johnson

No, you DO NOT get to bus into town, demand to put your anti gay "worship service" in the gayest neighborhood in Seattle and then demand that Mayor Harrell resign. For one thing there is an election coming up. You don't get to vote unless you move to this hellhole one of your prayer service attenders basically in need of cleansing.

But thank you, RantWoman supposes for contributing to the latest rounds of:

--rage on the internet about what a godless hell hole Seattle is and how everyone involved in protests should be locked up

--Rantings on social media about protestors going unpunished

--complaints from the Seattle Police Officers Guild that Seattle PD is understaffed. (They are but many parts of town would probably prefer more ordinary neighborhood patrols and less pepper spray.)

PS. Maybe don't brag on X about starting a riot just by praying.

And now citations.

https://www.theburnerseattle.com/post/bigots-rally-in-gayborhood-katie-wilson-makes-her-case-as-a-labor-champ-and-the-burner-gals-hate-i

23 arrests at heated ‘Fascist Family Values’ protest in Seattle | The Seattle Times

Mayor Harrell Statement on Extreme Right-Wing Rally at Cal Anderson Park - Office of the Mayor

Seattle Police make multiple arrests during counter-protest of fundamentalist church group’s rally in Cal Anderson Park — UPDATE | CHS Capitol Hill Seattle News

Shout-out to Mayor Harrell, quoted at the end of this video.

On Fire Ministries – For His Kingdom

About - On Fire Ministries & Kingdom Christian Academy

Mayday USA event at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park sparks arrests and controversy

Protesters arrested at Cal Anderson Park appear in court

8 arrested during rally, counterprotest at Cal Anderson Park appear in King County court

23 people arrested at Cal Anderson Park when rally, counterprotesters clash

23 arrested during religious rally in Seattle

Seattle leaders blasted for permitting religious rally that sparked protests, arrests

MAYDAY SEATTLE RECAP

extremely produced propaganda recap

drone footage

🌟MAYDAY USA| Seattle Washington 🌟

No, RantWoman did not watch the whole video. After some testimonials, RantWoman skipped forward several times. At the end of the show, people who attended were exhorted to pick up their trash and guys were exhorted to walk women to their cars. RantWoman had an ick reaction but was fine with "don't walk alone."

Check out #DontMessWithOurKids on your favorite social media platform

Muckleshoot Artist John Halliday at MOHAI History cafe APRIL 16, 6:30 pm

J

John Halliday holding a drum with native symbols

 History Café: How Native Values Can Teach Resilience – Museum of History & Industry

John Halliday

John Halliday (he/him) is a legally blind Native American artist of Muckleshoot, “Duwamish,” Yakama, and Warm Springs Indian descent. Halliday recently retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as Deputy Regional Director for the Navajo Region after serving as CEO for both the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie tribes. Halliday has shown his art at Lakewold Gardens, ANT Gallery, and the Sacred Circle Galleries of American Indian Art under the artist name “Coyote”. Halliday lives in Steilacoom.

Event will be Livestreamed for people who cannot attend in person

Link for the Livestream

From John: I have attached a live stream link for those people who can't make it. They're welcome to come in person, because it's a big venue, but if they can't make it, the live stream link is below. I talk on the history of the Puget Sound Indian wars and my personal story as a blind person finding a new career in art."

History Café: How Native Values Can Teach Resilience youtube.com

Presidents and spouses on parade with body language analysts at the #JimmyCarter funeral

The musical soundtrack and the word of the hymns are a fascinating aspect of this video. I would have to think to articulate the points that seem significant. It definitely enhances the sense of theater. Kamala and Barack are the only two people of color in this sea of white people. I don't think it would have helped to have Michelle Obama there. I wonder whether there is a gender aspect to the visual exchange or lack of between Kamala and Barack As an asterisk, Trump clearly cleans up well, compared for instance to the sketch artist images from his NY trial. But I also mean that there have been SO many comments about his body odor at different points and there was NO indication of that from anyone around him. All of the former Presidents are smiling because as one of you noted, they are very attuned to engaging and they are all with their peers. Hillary and Kamala are the only two women who have ever been at the top of a national party ticket and they have both lost to someone who has SUCH a long and deplorable record of behavior toward women. If I were writing an SNL sketch about this sequence, it might be WAY too much to play that up WAY beyond what is anywhere near appropriate at a state funeral. Daggers in their eyes.... The comments about the wives were interesting. I am guessing that some of Emhoff's expression might be desire to protect his wife. He is also the only Jew in the group at this very Christian funeral. He is probably used to that feeling of difference, but I imagine this might have been exacerbated in the context of everything else. I think Trump might be a little bit afraid of heat from his base if he admits to friendliness, even faint, with Obama. Anyway the commentary is really interesting. I am legally blind and probably would have missed everything here without the commentary.

Dear Amazon, Do you really want my opinion?

 Dear Amazon,

Thank you so much for space to provide driving instructions which I HOPE help all the drivers delivering to my building figure out how to come to the front door and not just dump packages at the back door.

Thank you, I guess, for NOT providing enough space to provide, in addition to driving directions, specific instructions such as "Please deliver to my apartment door and please text me when the order is delivered.

Thank you also I guess for inviting me to comment on the delivery. Thank you also for NOT providing a text box to specify exactly what is wrong. To wit:

Two columns down from
RantWoman's mailbox

Ahem. RantWoman does not see well and is not charmed to have to look at a picture without additional verbal commentary

What the mailroom looked like to RantWoman

RantWoman did find her package. Amid all the drama and upheavals around the world and the holiday whirl, maybe that has to be sufficient.

Part 2: Festive holiday sugar.

Today RantWoman went looking for an additional item that was not in the first box. RantWoman hand not thought to look in the adjacent cubby for the second package. HOWEVER, RantWoman lives in a world of at least SOME neighbors who do things like bring apparently mislaid items to the office.  RantWoman now has the festive holiday sugar she will dole out to visitors at a certain computer lab.

But One more piece of feedback: NO, RantWoman does not want to return the iten. RantWoman is quite happy to have it in her hot little hands. ALL RANTWOMAN WANTS is a little more space to write exactly what was wrong with the delivery, to wit: RantWoman sees poorly and got only pictures without meaningful text about where specifically to find her packages.

#DoBetter, what ever holidays you observe.

Boxes

a celebratory Christmas Cactus

 Happy Birthday RantDad.

If RantDad were still alive he would turn 90 today, one of those time horizons one hardly imagines, whether the celebrant is alive or not.

30 years ago, RantWoman flew back to MT to surprise RantDad on his birthday. That year his birthday fell on Thanksgiving. RantWoman missed out on Thanksgiving dinner but collected a nice incentive to take a later flight than the one she originally booked. The whole trip was the best birthday surprise ever.

35 years ago was a terrible tragedy RantWoman still smarts from.

But let us talk RantDad memories:

Bassoon music

Postcard collecting

Stacking boxes in boxes.

RantDad was frugal in a style that definitely did not permit throwing away all the boxes that crossed his path.  In fact, even though some kinds of math definitely were not RantDad's favorite, he made sort of a hobby of stacking boxes in boxes and then figuring out how to rearrange things to stack even more boxes in the boxes. 

When RantMom was getting ready for downsizing 1.0, we discovered that the garage of the family home still held boxes stacked from the 1960's, before the RantFamily moved from CO to MT.: All of these spatial reasoning masterpieces started going out the door during Downsizing 1.0 for RantMom. RantMom sold the home where she lived for 30 years, loaded her life behind a bulkhead in one of those we will move your stuff in our semi on our timeline deals and moved to Seattle.

And two downsizings later, RantMom's apartment still has a FEW boxes stacked in boxes remaining.

RantWoman smiles ironically every time she flattens an Amazon delivery box. The flattened boxes go to the recycle. RantWoman would be thrilled if the charming drivers who bring boxes of things to her door could, on subsequent trips. In the meantime, RantWoman strives to move the boxes along in the universe more elegantly than RantDad did.

And speaking of boxes, one of RantMom's recent excursions into boxes turned up this memorable phot of RantDad, probably from early college because RantWoman thinks RantDad played the baritone horn until he went off to college and fell in with the woodwinds.

RantDad with his bassoon in performance clothes

Two bars on the test, two days in a row.

RantWoman KNOWS #COVID numbers are up and RantWoman has got spoiled about going mask free. One excuse is about needing wind and sound on her cheeks to help about navigation. RantWoman is also just tired of everything to do with the topic but does fully intend to get booster vaxed.

RantWoman is also white knuckling prayers that two activities last weekend were not places RantWoman infected anyone else. RantWoman can live with the possibility that she got infected at one of her activities but definitely does NOT want to have infected anyone else.

Two days of drippy nose.

Being easily able to sleep far longer than usual.

Drippy nose seemed to be getting better about like average cold but unusual headache.

All right. All right. Do a COVID test. What is the expiration interval? Who cares? Two bars CLEARLY visible even with RantWoman's bad eyes

Call doctor? Ask for Paxlovid? Nah, not so much. But figure out needed isolation period and order chicken soup from Amazon

Need to cough. Some of the time it hurts to cough.

Coughing is productive sometimes. 

Body in general feels better with movement.

Not much mental or physical stamina, 

So, take it seriously. 

Cancel weekend travel. 

Cocoon. Do as many needed chores as tolerated. 

Ask a couple people to check one me if they don't hear anything for a couple days. Try not to overstress people already overstressed.

Treat YouTube like supermarket tabloids.

Pay attention to some writing deadlines.

Be VERY grateful because it could be worse.

 

Happy Pride month to everyone, even people who don't have a dog for social lubricant. Meet Paul and Matthew

#Pride2024 #Pride

KING 5: Blind man and his dog denied service at a restaurant

Meet Paul and his guide dog Mr. Maple in the video above.

Now, below, Paul and Mr. Maple go on a route (a walk when dog is in harness) with Paul's husband Matthew filming.

Don't the guys seem like fun couple!

There. RantWoman has provided two fun guide dog videos. 

Digression:

RantWoman needs to rant about "You don't look blind." What exactly are blind people supposed to look like? RantWoman for instance is a white woman with white hair, glasses...and a white cane. The glasses help. The glasses plus white cane together confuse people. RantWoman also generally wears some kind of broad brimmed hat "to keep the glare out and the brain cells in."

End of Digression.

RantWoman from time to time has to go off on all the other dogs whose humans drag them everywhere, whether or not the dogs have had specific service dog training or even, in too many cases, basic obedience training. Humans who drag dogs everywhere also tend not to pay attention, for instance, to whether their dogs are taking up the whole bus aisle or wagging distractingly at people trying to get on and off the bus.

Big Giant Frowny Face!!!!!

Good service dog traning trains dogs NOT to interact with other dogs. Dogs who are not trained just want to wag and sniff other dogs.

Maybe "Not All Dogs or all humans." Maybe but RantWoman has had too many trip on dogs and nearly walk on them moments recently getting on and off buses.

Oh NO! Weather HAPPENS. This Could Actually Ruin The Solar Eclipse…

Hint: The video about What Could Happen weatherwise around the upcoming April 18 total solar eclipse might set readers up to be vexed and disappointed if the weather follows typical patterns from previous years.

So if you like, just skip the video and see below.

Check out Eclipse Soundscapes for:

--Much more visual interest than the following comments

--eclipse safety tips

--tips for crowdsourcing data collection

--Social media hashtags for sharing one's observations.

All of the above in Spanish as well. RantWoman remembers this being a lot of fun in 2017..

Further RantWoman thoughts:

--Apparently there are eclipse chasers the same way there are tornado chasers. 

RantWoman remembers the 2017 partial eclipse in Seattle. RantWoman was not outside but surprised about how quickly it got cold and how much the temperature dropped.

RantWoman has a regular hang out with blind people Zoom call. Recently, one regular admitted that he is kind of an eclipse chaser and that he planned to travel from where he lives in MA to someplace in the zone of totality. Conversation also arose about eclipses and blind people.

--Anyone who has even a little vision should observe the same vision precautions as everyone else.

--Besides the temperature drop, changes in sound are another important dimension. Animals act like it is night. RantWoman has no theories about why, even in cities, the sound changes so much.

Anyway, prepare to enjoy this eclipse because another one is not due in the US for quite a while.

Affordable Connectivity: PLEASE Don't tell me to check the internet when the problem is the internet doesn't work.

Dear Congress,

PLEASE renew the Affordable Connectivity program if only because some customers have barely had devices and connectivity at their fingertips long enough reliably to do simple tasks, never mind the vast and necessary horizons of the internet.

Look, RantWoman imagines that one goal of the ACP is to get enough user experience out there to hit a better sweet spot about meeting customer needs as far as device access, human support, and targeted subsidies addressing specific populations. The world is a long ways from there and the way to get better data is not to halt the program but to renew it and commit to continuous improvement. Perhaps rantWoman will have more to say soon.

In the meantime, for one example of corporate hiccups: choosing an internet provider AND the right device, in the highly competitive world of wireless service providers we have:

Provider #1

--Seems to have subcontracted the store closest to RantWoman. Visit experiences include:

   --multiple customers and not enough staff

   --loose papers and half-drunk beverages all over the counter

   --a perky clerk having a conversation with an elderly customer where the amount he was going to need to pay bounced all over the place and then the clerk had the nerve to ask whether there was anyone he wanted to add to his account.

--Closed the branch across town where RantWoman was treated VERY kindly by an attentive but possibly lonely staff person

--numerous other fiascoes written about elsewhere.

The following is NOT an April Fools Day joke.

Enter Provider #2, the service provider for a specialized phone aimed at blind people. A customer recently called RantWoman and described what RantWoman interprets as either a general network problem or probably some kind of data cap when the customer tries to access the internet. In short, it is probably going to be really hard to send email even if the customer has figured out how to do email, something RantWoman thought the customer would be able to figure out. Anyway put a pin in the no email no internet issue.

Enter Mr. Google and a quest for the accessibility support line. The website is for RantWoman at least, reasonably well-behaved. RantWoman does not find a phone number but does find a form inviting RantWoman to write in and describe the problem.

Silly RantWoman, RantWoman described the problem, REQUESTED A PHONE NUMBER for the end customer to call, and sent the form off.

And what did RantWoman get in return:

Basically "please check out our website and consider switching to our services. We are sure we have a plan that can meet your needs."

Meet what now?????

RantWoman ASKED FOR A PHONE NUMBER to give to the end customer because "please try the internet" is not working. Currently, RantWoman's reflex whenever possible is to refer people directly to people getting paid to address the particular combination of technologies involved. 

RantWoman will try again in daylight and will ask the end customer's permission to submit the form on his behalf. HOWEVER, RantWoman is likely to get other requests for the same phone number in the same context. So, um, provider #2, DO BETTER.

And by the way, think POSITIVE influencers instead of grouchy frustrated ones.

One more thing: RantWoman reached out to end customer. No, he does not yet have email. But the internet data flow sneezes he was experiencing miraculously disappeared over the weekend. So #HappyEaster or some such thing.

Data hiccups disappeared. But end customer who struggles to pay the bare minimum price per month he now pays just got word, PRovider #2 wants to charge customers $5 / month for personal help.

Seriously?

End Customer vows to go in person for help. End Customer does not drive and also regales RantWoman with transportation realities involving THE BUS into downtown Seattle from one of the official burbs.

FS Cast 230 and more

Fun Fact for users of Freedom Scientific's screen reader program JAWS: Freedom Scientific has a podcast called FSCast. RantWoman is sure there is some notification setting she needs to find in order not to have the podcast announcement seize control of whatever RantWoman is trying to do and demand that RantWoman either listen to the podcast or make a couple other choices. 

Most of the time RantWoman just bangs the down arrow to Remind Me Later.

Recently, though RantWoman had time in her schedule and gave FS Cast 230 a listen.

(Note to self: check whether listening to a different podcast channel comes with the option to speed up the replay.)

There are a couple cool tech tips at the beginning. RantWoman is going to let Major Scotty Smiley (Ret.) tell his own story; RantWoman is also happy to let readers digest the latest reporting from NRTC about use of technology in the workplace on their own.

On the whole, going forward this podcast is useful enough that RantWoman is probably sometimes actually going to listen when some work activity is suspended while RantWoman waits for JAWS to present the announcement.

One really important point: this narrative makes RantWoman want to screem "No. No. NO!: about one fun fact. Major Smiley may be the first blind person in quite awhile to  return to active duty after losing vision. But he is not the first person ever. 

After WWII many men returned home from the front blinded in the war. RantWoman went looking on the American Printing House Hall of Fame for reference to, RantWoman believes, either a colonel or a general who ordered his blinded troops to remain on active duty so that they could get rehabilitated and learn skills of blindness. The other way to search about this is to look up the history of white cane usage, but that also is more historical diligence than RantWoman is going to attempt tonight.

RantWoman has one more bit of unsolicited advice for anyone in or connected to the military who is doing blindness related vocational rehabilitation: blindness happens lots of ways. RantWoman imagines that military-related groups on almost any social media platform can help people make connections.

Maybe that is enough for one post.

Guest post: Disability Storymap interview invitation for non-drivers in WA particularly outside Seattle

Slightly edited to de-jargonize and with modest additional intro:.

This study needs you whether you just recently became a non-driver or have been a non-driver for a long time. RantWoman has not checked but RantWoman recommends that people in households where a non-driver might not be able to speak for themselves also reach out.

The Gist of the Invitation

I am newly Blind.  About a year now.  I lost my vision relatively quickly, over a span of 2 years; Glaucoma.  I am currently a student at  Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) Orientation and Training Center who wants to make a difference within our Blind community.  I am working on starting my own Non-Profit, dedicated to bridging the gap between the wealth of resources available for Blind individuals and those who are Blind and don’t know about them.  I am graduating in a couple of months and hope to remain in the Seattle area but I am originally from Yakima.  I am interning with Disability Rights WA (DRW) currently.  DRW is a private Non-Profit Organization that protects the rights of people with disabilities statewide.  Their mission is to advance the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities.  They work to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights.

 The specific project I am working on is interviewing non-drivers.  We are working to raise awareness, statewide, of the need for improvement to our  transit system.  With appropriate data we hope to bring some positive changes and improvements from our Sidewalks to public transit systems.  I am gathering information via an interview, (about 20 questions), and a demographic survey.  Participants receive a T-shirt and a $15 gift card. The information will be included in the DRW StoryMap which is being used to bring light to the need for improvements needed within our states transit program.  Participants may remain anonymous if they so choose. 

More details may be obtained on the Disability Rights WA website

 Thank you for your time and consideration!”

Sincerely,

Jim Palomarez

Disability Rights Washington

(509) 969-5500

jpaloemail@gmail.com

 “Bridge the Gap!”

 

Take the AFB Barriers to Digital Inclusion Survey before December 15!

Hi All

Taking a survey might just NOT be on the top of anyone's mind as we all whirl through December. However, in RantWoman's experience, surveys from the American Council of the Blind are nearly always worth one's time. 

Take this on before December 15, 2022

You can now respond to AFB's Barriers to Digital Inclusion research survey until December 15.  Are you blind, deafblind, or do you have low vision?  Do you use assistive technology like screen magnification, a screen reader or a braille display? If you said “yes” to these questions, then the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) invites you to fill out our accessible online survey. Specific survey topics include: The mainstream and assistive technology you use. How you learned to use assistive technology. How you stay up-to-date about new accessibility features and upgrades. Any accessibility challenges you encounter while using websites or mobile applications. The strategies you use to overcome accessibility challenges with websites and mobile apps. The survey should take about 30-45 minutes to complete. You will have the opportunity to enter a raffle to win one of 15 $25 Amazon gift cards. We’ll use what we learn from this survey to: Help inform technology companies so they can make their products more accessible and improve training opportunities. Support our advocacy efforts to promote full digital inclusion. TAKE THE SURVEY If you have any questions or need more information please contact Dr. Arielle Silverman, AFB Director of Research, asilverman@afb.org or 202-469-6832. The survey will close on Thursday evening, December 15, at 11:59 Pacific time. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. AFB’s mission is to expand pathways to leadership, education, inclusive technology, and career opportunities to create a world of no limits for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. To learn more about AFB's research and initiatives, visit www.afb.org/research.