This unabashed fundraiser post is halfway in memory of RantMom. RantMom ran licensed home day cares both in CO and for a shorter time in MT. RantWoman is just posting the fundraiser link rather than try anything fancy with visuals because RantWoman does not want technical imperfections to get in the way of the story.
The San Luis valley is east of where RantMom grew up and east of where the Rant Family lived, there are a couple family road trips to Alamosa to hang out with a music professor colleague of RantDad's. There used to be a zoo that had at least one resident camel. RantWoman remembers visiting during snowy weather and thinking about all the harsh climates where camels work.
There. Just check out the fundraiser and do it before May 1 if possible.
The contest does not want anyone who has ever done professional photography. Do the following comments mean RantWoman might be over-qualified?
Part of the instructions ask for a one-minute video about a bad photography experience that still turned out well. There is also the part about other skills. One of RantWoman's skills is going on at length. Hence the multiple blog posts.
First Prize in the 4H photography category at the county fair: there were no other entries.
This happened decades ago at an age when RantWoman officially could see enough with glasses to maybe do decent photos. RantWoman remembers giving a speech about sewing. RantWoman may have entered some baked goods. But the blue ribbon went to an album of black and white photos. RantWoman has long since lost the actual album but remembers that it was in black and white. Some of the composition was less than perfect, though RantWoman also remembers at least one shot of one of the town mountains that she really liked
The fambly reunions:
RantMom, may she rest in peace, and her siblings had a tradition, after their kids were grown and everyone was on less tenuous financial footing. of getting together every couple years with at least a few at a time of the cousin generation. So there RantWoman was recently looking at photos ahead of RantMom's memorial. Quite a bit of the time, RantWoman found herself thinking "who are theese people and why can't anyone take decent photographs? RantWoman can tell that photographs of people standing with light behind them in front of various forms of scenery do not do justice either to the people or to the scenery. Does that observation already make her overqualified for the contest? The memories are FUN regardless.
The cat and the disposable camera.
While RantWoman was trying to land on her feet after her midlife vision-related DNA kicked in, RantWoman signed up for a workshop series called "Getting involved in your Neighborhood." Part of the project involved handing RantWoman a disposable camera with instructions to document one's surroundings. Very funny. RantWoman really could not even locate the camera viewfinder and took a few pictures just by framing the camera based on externam things she used to orient the camera. The Queen of Meow, RantWoman's cat overlord at the time liked to jump up onto the railing of the balcony across from RantWoman's apartment. To RantWoman's surprise, a couple of RantWoman's cat photos showed the Queen of Meow proudly strolling along the railing, oblivious to the 4-floor drop to the patio.
The incision at the bottom of RantWoman's neck.
Scroll forward a couple decades. Add a smartphone so theoretically RantWoman can better use her limited vision to frame the photos at least a little better. Oh, but wait: a new task. Recently RantWoman had a surgery related to a different strand of DNA lotto. The surgery involved a small incision at the base of RantWoman's neck, sealed up with surgical glue and steri strips. RantWoman lives alone and cannot really see into the mirror to monitor healing. RantWoman an also has a smart phone that attempts to tell her how to capture her face. RantWoman did not want to capture her face. RantWoman wanted to capture her incision as it healed. To do that RantWoman basically had to ignore the instructions offered. RantWoman probably would have been able to tell if she were developing a raging infection without photos. Luckily, RantWoman has a coupe people in her life willing to receive daily photos and comment on the evolving color palette. The doctor was impressed at the follow-up visit.
The daily tree motif
RantWoman's apartment looks out on a tree, actually more than one tree. RantWoman does daily tree photos more or less just for fun. RantWoman is not preoccupied about the quality, composition, contrast of the photos. RantWoman's task is to write alt text for the photos. Alt text is description used by screen reader users to describe content of photos. Nowadays, a lot of platforms have AI which automatically does a mediocre job. RantWoman's efforts are also possibly inadequate. Sometimes the descriptions include details like the building in the background or the plants growing on the window ledge or some observation about weather conditions. There is some dance of messing with AI, attempting to improve on AI, and meditation about how much description is just right for different situations. Does RantWoman just have weird ideas of fun?
The only small accessibility blip: Must be able to interact and choose one of 5 emojis to respond to one of the questions.
Need some tips?
Just be yourself, no script needed.
Share any other skills you have other than being bad at photography.
What excites you most about this opportunity?
Got a memorable photography fail? Tell us about it!
So there RantWoman was one night watching volcanic eruption videos, one of RantWoman's fave diversions from other horrors of the current timeline. There was a volcano erupting in Grundjavik for several days. The eruption was the kind of slow meltdown that opened wide features and crept closer and closer to a village until part of the village had to be evacuated.
That eruption has faded from RantWoman's media streams, but along with the eruption videos YouTube sent RantWoman several videos of things one might do while visiting Iceland. The videos featured a certain amount of rugged hiking, sometimes in rainstorms, as well as ordinary daylife activities such as going to the grocery store or swimming in a completely non-chlorinated geothermally heated pool.
The rugged hiking sometimes in pouring rain sounds like maybe not the biggest sell, but a possible trip to Iceland in June when days are longest still intrigues RantWoman enough to do a couple posts turning over the idea of entering the contest.
Silly RantWoman. RantWoman still naively hopes that asking a search engine for a specific document will immediately yield a link to the document, AS THE FIRST LINK in the search results. Thankfully, the Urbanist article and the KIRO radio links below this video both have a direct link to the Metro fare enforcement report.
For grins, RantWoman read the whole report. The report is presenting the raw numbers requested in the ordinance that requests the report. RantWoman still has questions not addressed by reporting that only looks at the numbers.
RantWoman has ridden every route addressed in the report at least once and usually on a round trip in the last 12 months. So RantWoman's opinions are informed by lived experience. RantWoman considers fare payment a mark of good citizenship, an indicator that she has her own act more or less together. RantWoman always just pays for a disabled pass because that is so much easier than payment for each ride.
RantWoman may have encountered fare enforcement once on Metro and once on Sound Transit during the study interval. At some point RantWoman's disabled pass got demagnetized and whichever fare enforcement officer RantWoman met looked at the ORCA app on her phone, and told her she needed to get a new card. Since then, RantWoman's card has reliably beeped as expected when tapped.
RantWoman wonders where the estimate that 30% of passengers don't pay fares comes from. RantWoman's estimate would be more like 20% based on what she can observe. However, some of the routes surveyed are so crowded during peak times of the day that people literally cannot get to the card reader to tap their cards. These same routes have plenty of capacity at other non-peak times. By peak times, RantWoman means both regular commuting hours and times when there are concert or sport events RantWoman is VERY glad people take transit to.
All of the routes listed are heavily traveled frequent routes, with frequency as high as every 6 minutes. So, one obvious way to look at raw numbers of fare enforcement contacts would be to look at some kind of ratio, say, of contacts per 1000 boardings.
During non-peak hours when the bus is mostly empty. but when the bus is almost empty, if passengers are clean and well-behaved, RantWoman is just FINE with people using the service, especially if their destination is something like a governmental or social service. Well, passengers who get on the bus carrying a bathtub sized latte and can't pay their fare get a disapproving look and the acknowledgment that one can't pay a bus fare with, say a Starbucks gift card.
RantWoman is aware that transit services are paid for in large measure by sales taxes which are highly regressive. If people can't come up with bus fare because they have paid sales taxes, RantWoman still figures they have at least partly paid their way.
Several media reports note that many of the people who received citations are "experiencing homelessness." If they can't pay bus fare, is anyone surprised that they don't pay fines either? Clearly though, actual payment of fines is not necessarily a great indicator of program success. Fare enforcement officers are also supposed to help direct people to options to be able to pay fares and to other relevant resources.
So one obvious question: what is the trend about people getting signed up for low income or senior / disabled fares? And can the trend be linked to the work of fare enforcement officers? RantWoman has seen firsthand how just having a bus pass, reliable transportation can help people manage all the inconveniences of homelessness and get them on to paths toward more stable situations. It is not obvious to RantWoman how one might illustrate this point with numbers, but it should be considered when evaluating the fare enforcement program.
Here though we also come to the public safety concerns that are part of the push behind fare enforcement and to driver comments that people causing problems tend also to be people who haven't paid their fare. RantWoman would definitely look more deeply at that concern.
RantWoman is not at all charmed by drug use on buses or near bus stops. If it were up to RantWoman people also would not smoke tobacco or weed near bus stops. Worse than drug use though are assaults and verbal abuse. RantWoman would be interested to know whether presence of fare enforcement officers reduces on-board crime, either compared to runs when there is no office present or overall.
RantWoman also wants to know more about the increase in fares collected overall. Is that because informational programs are reaching the people they are intended to reach? Is it because more people have figured easier ways to pay their fare? Is it possible to quantify whether the fare enforcement program has contributed to the uptick in fare revenue.
Also, this YouTube channel has some other items possibly of interest.
RantWoman attempts to replicate some information provided visually but not obvious from the verbal explanation.
The video does not have any terrifying suggestions such as "do three sets of 1- repetitions and do that more than once a day." Instead, RantWoman recommends working up from 5 or 10 reps at a time.
1. Extended a rm raises from touching the knee to shoulder height. The text does not mention overhand / palm down or underhand / palm up. RantWoman can tell the positions work different muscles and would say both versions are probably beneficial.
2, 3. March in place. From seated position, knees bent, thighs parallel to the chair: raise and lower first one knee then the other. Raise arm opposite of the knee being raised. The video shows two versions, one where fists get raised to shoulder level and the second where arms get raised straight overhead.
4. Raise leg, clap under. Alternate with the other leg.
5. Raise leg and reach to touch toe with opposite arm. RantWoman likes the demo because one doesn't have to do it perfectly and the exercise still counts even if one misses their toe.
Does RantWoman have other things she is SUPPOSED to be doing, up to and including some formal way of observing Holy Thursday / Maundy Thursday / the version of Passover sometimes observed by Christians contemplating events leading up to Easter.
RantWoman went looking for info about Easter witches, a custom in Finland and Sweden.
Please enjoy the fruits of RantWoman's internet peregrinations.
RantWoman apologizes: she has not been keeping up with the ins and outs of sharing content across different platforms. Blogger may ask readers to click on a link and go directly to YouTube. The link works great.
RantWoman has decided several times not to go to law school, but RantWoman has, in the comment rant below the video, RantWoman would like to propose a project for a fresh aspiring lawyer.
Time to test the #SCOTUS concept of "official acts?"
What is the emergency???
Has the local #StableGenius violated so many laws, architectural and construction standards, procedures, constrains on bribery... that SOMEONE can make a case that immunity does not apply?
I assume there is no chance the current DoJ would do it, but who might have standing to sue????
If President #StableGenius did not like the White House, why did he run for re-election??? Surely he can afford to live somewhere else and build his own dang ballroom.
Besides, what's one more civil judgment for the #StableGenius to ignore??? When he finally slouches off this mortal coil, probate for his estate could be SO much fun....
RantMom "departed for other realms exactly two months ago. Therefore, we interrupt the daily war coverage for...
--meditations on obituary writing process wrangling a whole life story into plausible obituary versions for different platforms
--effort both to collaborate with Little Sister and to tread among family religious and other emotional landmines.
--inchoate ranting about one popular obituary platform whose accessibility for RantWoman SUCKS.
Uhhh, how about just do the COVID piece?
Ding! Ding!
Adapted from the current draft of the obituary:
(RantMom) became good friends with the first Ida Culver Ravenna Resident to die of COVID. She tested positive herself cleared the virus and did not develop symptoms. The pandemic lockdown was very hard for everyone. The staff's meticulous observance of rules and safety practices as well as use of vaccines as soon as they became available ensured that COVID did not hit that community nearly as hard as other retirement facilities.
(RantMom) and several other residents of Ida culver Ravenna moved to The Lakeshore, along with numerous other residents of Ida Culver Ravenna. At the Lakeshore, residents enjoyed an expansive view of Lake Washington and resident bald eagles nesting in a tree near the dining room. Art shows, special speakers, music and dance performances and other activities kept life as lively as (RantMom) wanted.
The last year of RantMom's life at the Lakeshore was rough: Her younger brother died of prostate cancer. She had a lingering bout of actual COVID, not just testing positive and clearing the virus without symptoms as she had done previously.
Other chronic issues were becoming more and more draining. Even so, she continued to volunteer weekly at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. To RantMom, this was a means to pay forward the excellent medical care she had received during her multiple battles with cancer.
RantMom's last few weeks were a blur of hospital, skilled nursing, and ultimately placement at the Agape Senior Care at Montlake -- with its extremely loving directors and staff -- where she passed away peacefully thirty years and six months to the day after (RantDad).
RantWoman's binge watch of the week, in this time of global discombobulation and offerings struggling to emerge from the keyboard in memory of RantMom is a tuxedo cat named Salmi.
Behold. Check out her entire channel.
The opinions are definitely Salmi's but RantWoman is wondering whether perhaps she has persuaded her human to take dictation.
And should Salmi be able to bear sharing the spotlight with the tuxedo cat of RantWoman's childhood, please enjoy
PS RantWoman has never been to Finland in winter, but Salmi should be glad she has a radiator to sit on. And yes, winter air in CO mountain towns is probably at least as dry as in Finland. It's physics.
Feast on the March seasonals from Pagliacci--or if spicy is not for you, there are other options.
The longer version: there are genetic reasons that people have wildly divergent views of both broccoli and cilantro. RantWoman knows of no such genetic explanation for the magnificent way mention of pineapple on pizza, say during an icebreaker, will turn a room instantly into vehement factions. RantWoman is definitely in the pro-pineapple camp with one asterisk: RantWoman would definitely add another vegetable to hawaiian pizza but RantWoman has not found a way to do that on the Pagliacci options.
RantWoman also tends to order from the website because RantWoman would have to turn Talkback off on her Android phone to order any size but large.
With that, to quote from the Pagliacci blog.
(Use the scroll bars for best viewing. The text sounds great for screen readers.)
Calypso
One of the most reliable pleasures in eating is the way sweet and savory and spicy come together to taste like so much more than the sum of their parts. Trigger warning: the new pie contains fresh pineapple. No, we’re not looking to revive that old debate, but rather to stimulate your taste buds.
Pineapple caramelizes in the oven, and picks up a deeper, almost tangy sweetness. Paired with soppressata — salty, garlicky, a little funky — it becomes a bright counterpunch. Add the heat of sliced jalapeños, mozzarella for that creamy savoriness, and a drizzle of hot honey, and you’ve got a pizza with an irresistible balance of sweet-salty-spicy.
If you’re firmly in the no-fruit camp, we respect your boundaries. But if you’ve ever loved a sweet-savory-spicy combo give yourself permission to try theCalypso.
Our Sicilian Cauliflower, the second seasonal pie, riffs on a classic Sicilian flavor combo, leaning into Sicily’s Arab-influenced sweet-and-savory tradition. We pile tender roasted cauliflower, golden raisins, mozzarella, fontina and Parmesan on our chewy crust with a Calabrian chile olive oil base, then finish it with parsley after the bake. One taste will explain why this recipe has stood the test of time.
Last May, we added a few Molly Moon’s flavors to our dessert menu. The response was overwhelming: customers asked for more. So we kept going. Now we’re going all the way and making Molly Moon’s our house ice cream. You’ll find the new flavors on our dessert page.
“I can’t think of a more fun, classic Seattle combo of comfort food than ordering a Pagliacci pizza and salad with a pint of Molly Moon’s for dessert,” says Molly Moon Neitzel, founder and CEO of her eponymous company. “I told my daughters we’re doing it tonight and they squealed with delight!”
Our rotating seasonal flavor is Molly Moon's Cookies & Cream. They bake the cookies themselves, then fold them into the ice cream for chunks and speckles in every spoonful. Order a pint while you still can.
UPDATE. THis one did really well cold for breakfast.
Spices easier to feel
different expectations about cheese texture.
So...
RantWoman is a GIANT fan of Pagliacci pizza. RantWoman is going to keep being a fan of Pagliacci pizza.
RantWoman is also the kind of adventurous diner who sometimes will try something once just to say she has tried it. Tonight's gustatory adventure: the new Verde Vita all plant-based pizza.
The verdict: meh while hot and we will see how it does cold for breakfast.
RantWoman has never felt an obligation to make plant-based products that simulate meat. Just do the plant-based protein like, say, walnuts, with pride and don't try to pretend it's meat. Plant based sausage on pizza, meh
The plant-based cheese had an interesting taste but felt gooey. RantWoman admits to the possibly unrealistic wish that cheese on pizza be stringy when the pieces are pulled apart.
RantWoman thinks the Verde Vita needs a little more spice. Which kind? RantWoman is unclear.
The plant-based cheese RantWoman likes best is an orange-y cashew-based cheeseball served at some friend's annual New Year's open house. Problem is, what would it take to make this cheese work on a pizza?
RantWoman now thanks her readers for indulging this digression from all the news and LIFE items making RantWoman's head explode.
Full disclosure 1: RantWoman has become quite a fan of Talking With Docs. These two canadian doctors clearly believe in science, have a great presentation style and leave RantWoman feeling both better informed and relaxed about many medical questions. Who could ask for more?
Full disclosure 2: Between the dangers of previously well controlled diseases roaring back because of vaccine hesitancy and other wacky recommendations from US supposed "health" authorities, RantWoman is predisposed to treat the new food guidelines with maybe instead ofa grain of salt, a whole tablespoon of salt. So RantWoman was interested to hear the Docs not pan the guidelines as severely as their source might indicate.
True Confession: RantWoman was seduced into these essays by mention of ice cream. Long ago when RantWoman was a graduate student studying in Leningrad / St Petersburg, ice cream bought from street vendors on Nevsky Prospekt in downtown Leningrad / St. Petersburg was basically a major food group. And in some kind of dietary magic, RantWoman lost about 30 pounds on her study abroad trip.
Ice cream nostalgia should not be mistaken for strategy in the modern era of billionaires and onrushing AI.
The Lesson I Learnt in the USSR That Still Fools Millions
With the anticipated announcement of this year's Nobel Peace Prize and Prsident #StableGenius endless imprecations to please, pretty please, pretty, pretty please recognize fabulousness like never before seen and award him the prize, RantWoman has come to several realizations.
🚨Nobel Prize Committee Drops SURPRISE TRUMP BOMB
Forget those silly Norwegians who ordinarily hand out Nobel Prizes. They clearly have nowhere near enough categories for all the ways that President #FartsALot and his cadre of sycophants are distinguishing themselves with contributions to the betterment of humanity.
RantWoman has no opinion about who should staff this brand new shiny gold-plated Noble Committee. The internet probably abounds with aspirants and RantWoman refuses to be in charge. RantWoman simply offers some prizes they might consider awarding.
President #StableGenius certainly deserves a No Bull piss prize. Incontinence happens if only because of rumors of his diaper-wearing. Why pretend?
The No Bell Peas prize to be awarded to anyone in the President's circle who can convince to be bold and try some vegetables--besides what's involved in Big Macs and French fries.
Consider the Noble Pries for Litterchur, to be awarded to the hapless staffers who crank the White House toddler's endless supply of BS provided in his daily briefings. The President probably does not even know where most of the countries he claims to have brought peace to are located.
Next, the Noble Flies of Bad Medicine, awarded to #BrainWormBob, aka Secretary of Health and Human services #RFKjr
The Noble Fleece Price for everyone ducking unflattering data about the economy, the jobs report, gas and grocery prices, not to mention the epidemic of corporate price gougers
The Noble Fleas Prize for the Secretary of Agriculture because why should anyone leave out an economic sector getting clobbered by the #TrumpTariffs and this administration's deport-a-rama.
The Noble Flies of Physics? What Physics to all the climate deniers, oil companies terrified of wind power,
Interests: Digital Inclusion, Languages and language access, walkability, accessibility, disaster preparedness.
When in doubt, laugh about something!
http://rantwoman.blogspot.com
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