Oh Canada

Canada has
redesigned the US flag.
Enjoy

Canadian commentator Tod Maffin, many people's personal emotional support Canadian is in all the places. Well, he's in Elon's sandbox only by reference, but on Instagram, YouTube and...

RantWoman is learning A LOT about Canadian history and culture from his posts. RantWoman has lived in border states for over 2/3 of her life and even sometimes watched canadian Olympics coverage in preference to the local brands. Yet RantWomanis only now learning all of this. Let's hear it for overcoming ignorance

RantWoman is impressed by well-earned Canada pride and also by what he calls "relentless decency." He also is posting a HILARIOUS series of travel warnings about visiting different US states. Use yer search engines. RantWoman will post links if more show up in her feed.

 Another important theme: how to buy Canadian per Tod Maffin 

Tod Maffin helps recruit US health care workers. RantWoman will be sorry to see them go, but considering the RIDICULOUS health care policies being presided over by President #StableGenius, his HHS secretary #BrainWormBob, the DOGE toddlers, and the big bad bonkers budget busting billionaire bailout boondoggle, RantWoman can definitely understand a desire to leave.

Take Tod's advice: Practice Relentless Decency

All We Ask

Episode 10 of Canadian small businesses hit by US tariffs that YOU can support!

But one BIG caveat.

Tod has a whole video about people doing Google searches about "move to canada" after the 2024 election. RantWoman may even have flirted with the idea herself.

Tod's plea: TAKE THE TIME to learn about Canada, the words to "O Canada," even the French part.

RantWoman is pretty sure that O Canada is way more singable by mere mortals than the US national anthem. RantWoman though is terrified of sounding like a total dork trying to sing in French. So enough of that?

Seeing how atrociously President #StableGenius is treating "our closest ally," RantWoman has a different plea. DON'T GO. If all desperate USians do is flee northward, Canada is still going to be battered by trade wars, insults, and toddler tantrums. Tough it out in the US. Do SOMETHING to right the US ship. GET OUT THERE AND VOTE. Participate in civic dialogue. Make full and virbrant use of the First Amendment.

RantWoman would even say pray for President #Stablegenius and his legions--if RantWoman could figure out what to pray.

Excellent e bike irritation

#JournweyMap

E bike blocking sidewalk
at bus stop

Has RantWoman mentioned in, say, the last 10 minutes that she finds it really easy just indiscriminately to HATE all scooters, #BikeShare and EBike vehicles.

 The photo here is one reason why.

Will people want to walk along the sidewalk blocked by this #LimeBike? People getting off the back of the bus might.

RantWoman meant to post this a couple days ago in hopes that the sidewalk blocking bike renter would have opportunity to mend their ways.

Here, though, there is an aspect of celebration!

RantWoman came across this sidewalk impediment because, she had just left PT feeling great. Also the bus stop closest to her PT appointment was closed and RantWoman did not have the option of minimal walking with transfers from one route to another at the same bus stop. RantWoman was going to have to walk somewhere. She was actually THRILLED to be able to walk strongly all the way to the stop with the wayward EBike.

Two, count them two sets of compression bands

Very cool YouTube channel, and ...

 The First point: Check out the Living in Seattle with Sean McConnell YouTube channel. YouTube generously sent RantWoman this item about walkability. RantWoman is going to start here but YouTube promises other Seattle-themed videos that RantWoman will look at later.

A few fast points from RantWoman's entirely non-driver perspective:

Sean mentions WalkScore values for each neighborhood mentioned. RantWoman needs to check what exactly goes into WalkScore  because  in RantWoman's experience mileage will vary. 

Mileage will vary based on steepness of many walking routes, very uneven condition of sidewalks and level of traffic and road noise, as well as need for amenities like curb ramps and cycling infrastructure. 

RantWoman would find it interesting to think about these aspects of the built environment in relation to housing costs, but that analysis is not on the agenda tonight. 

Also, not on the agenda: the features of the exact routes a person will travel most often. This might be housing / work / school / shopping. Or, in the case of RantMom's last days, the RantSisters were glad to be able to place RantMom mid city at an Adult Family Home on Boyer Avenue in Montlake. The location was accessible both for RantWoman with white cane and Little Sister with her wheelchair. We also got intimately familiar with all sorts of sidewalk hiccups between the bus stop and the facility. At least RantMom was one bus away from the RantSisters instead of the much longer travel time to RantMom's previous retirement community almost to Renton.

RantWoman digresses but a big consideration in the RantFamily has been people who want to live close but not too close.

One interesting crowd source world for more information is a project through the UW Taskar center called AccessMap. More on AccessMap separately.

Last weekend RantWoman was invited to a potluck deep in residential Ballard, 10 blocks off 24th Ave NW. It was a bright sunny day. RantWoman figured in Ballard the odds of continuous if imperfect sidewalk routing to and from bus stops were decent. Google Maps was reasonably helpful. And that part of Ballard has glorious vegetation and magnificent views of Puget Sound.

RantWoman has a lot more to say about walkability for people of different abilities, but not tonight. 

One closing tip when making decisions about locations, go there on whatever mode(s) of transportation you are going to rely on. This may mean needing to tell a real estate agent "no thank you" about offers a ride, but it's going to be your housing.

And if transportation realities look less than optimal but you have energy for political engagement, a number of neighborhoods have very active community organizations working to upgrade problematic situations.

Another eldercare digression: the RantSisters rejected several adult family homes without even a visit because of travel time, iffy sidewalks, and steep grade between location and bus stop.

#JourneyMap

The Zen of Iceland: one person's voice

 Gorgeous photos, car rental advice and tips about Iceland on a budget

El Nino

 

A Historic El Niño is Coming - What NO ONE Realizes...

This NEW Forecast Just Turned VERY WEIRD!

Golf Ball City

 #DIY #DomeVillages #Homelessness

INtriguing.

Serious realism to take seriously about travel in Iceland

 

"He likes me" Umm, BELIEVE THE WARNINGS

 #Yellowstone #Bison

DO NOT try to pet the bison! GIVE THEM SPACE!

RantWoman is always OUTRAGED to hear about some dumb tourist not respecting wild animals.

This video is much kinder but also blunter about realities.

Scary bison attack DECODED | Yellowstone National Park | Wild animal attack

Rutting season!

While we are at it, some other animals have their moment.

Man Taking Selfie With Bison Instantly Regrets It - Yellowstone Tourists Are Idiots

Man Approaching Bison Instantly Regrets It - Yellowstone Tourists Are Idiots

Horses cars buses planes trains: the RantParents got around.

Apparently the RantParents are just going to be particularly on RantWuman's mind on the 18th of every month for a while. In honor of that, RantWoman offers a tribute to various flavors of transportation realities.

RantDad: never talked about gas rationing during WWII but probably experienced it. The Righteous Rev. RantGrandad's job involved driving around WY and doing multiple church services in different small towns. RantDad, his sister and their mother all set the musical tone.

RantWoman has the impression that the WY town where RantDad grew up was compact enough that RantDad and his sister probably just walked to school. No horses for sure.

RantWoman has no idea how RantDad traveled between the University of WY and home, most likely by car.

RantDad's first car, something green or the first family car, bought used a 1955 red and black Plymouth affectionately known as the Red Rocket. The red Rocket served faithfully well into RantWoman's childhood but got totaled when hit broadside while the family was out on snowy streets looking at Christmas lights.

The next car a red and white custom Travelall. "Custom" meant split doors in the back, heaters under the BACK seat. Previously the Travelall belonged to a florist. The RantFamily toted around a lot of timpani, a harpsichord, and assorted other family musical instruments. Eventually, after timpani rolling around loose cracked the back windows a couple times, "secure your load" sank in.

Childhood involved a couple trips over the rive and through the woods for family holidays or in one case for medical consultation in Denver.

RantDad probably flew at most two round trips in his life. One trip was travel with the college band where he taught to the 1965 World's Fair in NY. That MAY have been a bus trip. The other was while RantWoman was in high school, round trip to Denver for eye surgery because the family ophtahalmologist told RantDad he did not operate on friends or relatives.

Eventually the Travel-all yielded to a Cutlass Ciera. Through most of the RantParents' marriage, only one parent drove the family vehicle. RantMom took over driving duties shortly after a road trip where RantDad got ticketed for driving too slowly at dusk on a two-lane road in SD.

RantDad was never much of a walker; for aerobic fitness he relied mainly on being a woodwind player. For his final years, he relied on RantMom to drive him around. He sometimes complained to RantWoman that RantMom's driving rattled his nerves though at that point RantMom's driving seemed fine to RantWoman.

As an aside, RantWoman finally got a learner's permit and drivers license as a senior. Finally, because in MT people can get a learner's permit at 14.5 and a license at 15 if they have had driver's ed. RantWoman has NO memory of either parent riding with RantWoman in student driver months. It must have happened. RantWoman got a license albeit while losing points because of a vision issue.

RantMom's transportation story was more interesting. Growing up on the farm, the family went to church in a horse-drawn cart. RantMom, her two sisters and a aunt who was close in age all rode to school on a horse until high school High school was far enough away that RantMom, her older brother and a cousin piled into a pickup.

RantMom's parents dropped her off from college at her first teaching job from then on, RantMom's transportation was pretty tied up with RantDad for a LONG time. RantMom got to be basically an old hand about flying. 

The most heroic part of RantMom's transportation story: RantMom moved from MT to Seattle while still recovering from back to back cancer treatments. RantMom also quit driving. 

RantMom confessed that she had been running about 1 fender bender a year in MT, often during the spring when. She did not really have budget for a car. Her first apartment was along Rainier Avenue, a lot narrower and with much heavier traffic flow than the "busy" streets near the rantFamily home in MT.

Instead RantMom IMMEDIATELY took to the bus. She was not super adventurous but quickly fond a church on a doable route. She also learned how to get to the Fred Hutchison cancer care center where she volunteered, as well as to the RantSisters' places. RantWoman still beams about the pluck of all that.

Eventually ACCESS and the vans from her different retirement communities replaced bus routes, but the key things were the horses and the sudden switch to the bus.

Icelandic hot dog vs Seattle dog?

Iceland Photography 

One of RantWoman's summer amusements has been following Blanche, proclaimed World's worst photographer by Icelandair around Iceland.

Here at last Blanche has gotten to chomp on a famous Icelandic Hot Dog.

In a spirit of actual research, below the video, RantWoman presents comparison between the Seattle Dog and the Icelandic Hot dog.

Be advised, RantWoman admits to thinking the Seattle dog is not her first choice in hot dogs, but let's see why the Icelandic hot dog probably tops it.

Seattle Style Hot Dogs with Cream Cheese and Grilled Onions - Our Best Bites

All beef dog, caramelized onions, jalapenos

Sigh: RantWoman likes cream cheese but not really on hotdogs. RantWoman does like roasted onions and  jalapenos, but horrors, has usually skipped the cream cheese in favor of sauerkraut and mustard. RantWoman definitely approves of buns toasted on the grill next to the vegetables.

The Icelandic Hot Dog - Pylsur - ✮ The Food Dictator ✮

Free range lamb, beef, pork in a natural casing with coriander, garlic and onions sounds delicious. Add Remoulade with pickles, capers, chervil.

Sounds yummy though definitely get real Icelandic hot dogs rather than ordinary polish sausages.

Watch the PFies try to ride the DC Metro

 #America250 #Heatdome

The image of the lone Black woman in a Metro car full of Patriot Front adherents in the nation's capital on #July4th2026 has gone around the world many times.

RantWoman thinks the video discussed here is really the one that should go viral. RantWoman snark on the other side.

I am sorry but the vision of the poor PFies having trouble figuring out that big city public transit stuff is pretty funny. That is the image that should be amplified. I support people's right to parade around in whatever getup they choose but did the PFies all just cook themselves dressing like that in 100+ degree F weather? Racism is NOT funny and there is at least one other clip of a Black man alone on a car with some of the PFies. No one should be masked for any other reason that #COVID prevention, not ICE, not anti-ICE protestors and not the PFies. If the cause is enough to march about, have enough decency to show your faces.

Internet MOCKS White Nationalists After DC FAIL

Estimates only 400 of the estimated 540 membership showed up. Maybe a FEW of them had enough sense to stay out of the heat.

Sordid State of the supposed State Fair

#America250 #USA250 

Dial-a-Tirade: America is a WHOLE CONTINENT. The USA is one country.

RantWoman is VERY glad it has not occurred to her to go steam herself under the heat dome in our nation's capital. 

RantWoman is posting this snapshot of YouTube offerings with the caveat that circumstances got even crazier than the videos here show.

Heat index of 110+

Thunderstorm

President #StableGenius only went on for about 40 minutes and then there were fireworks.

Twitter / X is invaluable for windows into #MAGA minds. They hallucinated MUCH bigger crowds than other sources reported.

Great American State Fair emptied due to extreme heat | NBC4 Washington

SHOCKING scandal ERUPTS over Trump’s Great American State Fair | Another Day

A new DISASTER at Trump’s Great American State Fair

Trump PANICS and CANCELS FAIR before JULY 4 EVENT!!!

Trump's Great American State Fair Keeps Getting Worse

High Quality Reese Waters ranting

Utterly Abysmal. Trump’s State Fair Flops. Delusional Fox Pretends Crowds Are Huge.

Roland Martin and a panel of Black voices

Nobody with offices close to the mall is having problems parking.

HOT TAKES! - Don & Joy Can't Believe How Bad The America 250 State Fair Is

Don and Joy pan it even before it gets shut down,.

Trump's State Fair Food Leaves Everyone GAGGING, IT'S DISGUSTING!

After the SemiQuinCentennial Party after the party and Zoom open house. Sunday July 5, 5pm-9pm

  AfterParty The SemiQuincentennial a day later.

The Short Version:

Happy 250th Birthday USA

It's the Party after the Party!

Please join RantWoman and friends for an After the party Zoom open house 

Sunday July 5, 

5 pm-9 pm Pacific.

Zoom info on request: leave a comment /

Has it really been 50 years since the bicentennial?

(Will there be guests who were not alive in 1976? Please come.

Can we stare down our nation's current mess and possibly contemplate a few more centuries? 

YES dang it.

The RantFamily observance of the bicentennial involved a lot of schlepping things around for a Billings Symphony concert in the park, a certain amount of helium balloon sales, and a thoroughly satisfying family picnic the next day.

In that tradition, time for a Zoom party!

Also, family circumstances got in the way of my customary holiday procrastination-themed Zoom open house so family time as needed. 

Put on your best patriotic gear, irreverent or ironic T-Shirt or at least come dressed appropriately for Zoom.

Come meet characters from many parts of RantWoman's life

Bring a recipe or at least a vivid description of a favorite picnic food.

Bring something that makes you laugh.

Bring a reason to be hopeful, outraged, or just perplexed.

Bring a story of a memorable Fourth of July. 

Come as you are for as long as you like.

There will also be a couple breakout rooms if people find something they want to chat about in a smaller group.

Readers who would like to attend and have not received an email invite, please leave a comment and Zoom info will arrive.

Blanche Day 3 and Elsewhere

 

Meanwhile the US tries to have a 250th birthday party. The "county fair" in Washington DC gets RAINED ON. GOOD THING for pride events all over everywhere else.

Watch Everyone Get KICKED OUT of Trump Fair - YouTube

And a lot of the rest of Europe swelters.Adventures of RantWoman: 1000 excess death in France due to heat wave compared to last year

Guess which story RantWoman would rather pay attention to today.

1000 excess death in France due to heat wave compared to last year

 

Record heat: What Northern Europe can learn from Southern Europe | DW News

Boiling Point: The week of extreme heat | BBC News

Why Is Europe Baking? | Deadly Heatwave in UK, France, Spain, Italy | Mmega Block | WION Wideangle

The reflecting pool. Oh, the reflecting pool

#TeamAlgae

The reflecting pool and algae homeland
miraculously still reflects

First a link to a Today Explained segment wherein algae experts are definitely having a moment.

The Reflecting Pool fiasco - Today, Explained - Apple Podcasts

There is a link to a transcript.

There are NUMEROUS scientists commenting about the wonders and persistence of algae. Any organism millions of years and photosynthesizes deserves respect.

RantWoman enthusiastically embraces the science and will henceforth strive to get a handle on every reflex that might prosaically be considered Trump derangement syndrome. RantWoman MAY also go look for the T-shirts that come in either "olive green" or "military green" imprinted with the words "American Flag Blue.

It is not like there are not floods of other things to doomscroll about or that President #StableGenius is going to run out of other ways to cause consternation and hopefully motivate people to rise up and GO VOTE.

Reflecting Pool’s “American Flag Blue” Turns Green Due to Algae - Washingtonian

As for "vandalism," former federal prosecutor Gleen Kirschner brings some receipts, er, evidence (?), along with a quote: "Cross examination is the greatest legal weapon for discovering the truth."

More Trump Reflecting Pool Nonsense!

Unsolicited clothing tips for Blanche, recently proclaimed Icelandair's World's Worst Photographer.

Blanche, Icelandair's "World's Worst photographer" is heading out on the promised 10-day trip around Iceland! 

RantWoman has mastered enough Instagram skills to search for specific channels, to like videos, to absorb ads for all sorts of travel giveaways (Clue: RantWoman seems to have a bit of a travel bug). RantWoman truly enjoys, for instance all the joy and energy and hope flowing from the Obama Presidential Center. RantWoman, who spends a bit of her time loathing #bikeshare vehicles also noticed someone, perhaps a Qatari "football" fan trundling around downtown Seattle on a #LimeBike. RantWoman has not really mastered sharing, reels / Threads, or how to target the floods of things one might want to share. Hence the need to offer unsolicited advice in blogland.

Back to IcelandAir and Blanche. Yesterday there was advice, mostly in Icelandic with tiny print that MAY be subtitles, for Blanche. Today both IcelandAir and Blanche posted a video that is almost to jittery and visually busy for RantWoman to appreciate. 

RantWoman did, though, notice that Blanche might need advice from one of the numerous "what to wear" / "how to pack for Iceland" videos.

Here, in case it is helpful are a couple such examples.

Rain Gear: How to Stay DRY in Iceland

There. Now RantWoman has to speak about Seattle. No need for rain gear, at least for a couple days. Temperatures have hit close to 90 F a few days in a row. RantWoman, who has lived in hotter climes, has gotten used to the need to whine about the heat anytime the temperature rises above about 80F. 

The summer temperature yo-yo in Seattle, for better or worse, does not include as much summer rain / heavy mist as was Seattle's reputation when RantWoman first moved here decades ago. The important point for tonight's ramble: weather definitely not as variable as Iceland but a young intern RantWoman knows will in fact, for the next few days, need the wrap RantWoman encouraged her to get.

Solstice in Iceland or otherwise

#Solstice 

There will be just shy of 16 hours of daylight today in Seattle. Some years RantWoman has been further north around the solstice. RantWoman finds it energizing to be awake almost full-time for a few days. RantWoman has never tried to do this with very small children. 

This yea RantWoman has not gone solstice chasing at Stonehenge  or paid attention to solstice observances for a favorite silly cat video series.

So here is a bit of Iceland, with a pointer to a series of who much light to expect every month in Iceland.

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

The Weather Forecast on D-Day

RantWoman is a big fan of Cliff Mass even though his graphics sound really silly through a screen reader.  

Here is a really interesting item about the weather forecast on D-Day.

History like this is always timely for the D-Day anniversary

Cliff Mass Weather Blog: The Real Story of the D-Day Weather Forecast