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jrmacd.bsky.social
Imaybehappy
@jrmacd.bsky.social
720 followers 1.3K following 640 posts
Living my life like I wasn't invited.
Jim/James
Go Cubs
Banner - Graffiti reading "Do Wat feels Bien or Don’t” in Oaxaca, MX
PFP - A man in a t-shirt & ball cap sits on a log facing the water on a beach. Next to him a bike leans against a palm tree.
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jrmacd.bsky.social
Last time the polar vortex hit Chicago(2019, the -27F one)my Dad died a week later. Unrelated but it was fun coming up with non-discomfort inducing answers when people saw my WA ID & asked what the heck I was doing there. Anywho fingers crossed the vortex didn’t return to finish the job with my Mom.
January 23, 2026 at 4:56 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
First time I heard about exploding trees was in the 2nd paragraph of Blue Highways, where William Least Heat-Moon used it as a metaphor (analogy?) for his disintegrating marriage.
BEWAre thoughts that come in the night. They aren't turned properly; they come in askew, free of sense and restriction, deriving from the most remote of sources. Take the idea of February 17, a day of canceled expectations, the day I learned my job teaching English was finished because of declining enrollment at the college, the day I called my wife from whom I'd been separated for nine months to give her the news, the day she let slip about her "friend" - Rick or Dick or Chick. Something like that. That morning, before all the news started hitting the fan, Eddie Short Leaf, who worked a bottomland section of the Missouri River and plowed snow off campus sidewalks, told me if the deep cold didn't break soon the trees would freeze straight through and explode. Indeed. That night, as I lay wondering whether I would get sleep or explosion, I got the idea instead. A man who couldn't make things go right could at least go. He could quit trying to get out of the way of life. Chuck routine. Live the real jeopardy of circumstance. It was a question of dignity. The result: on March 19, the last night of winter, I again lay awake in the tangled bed, this time doubting the madness of just walking out on things, doubting the whole plan that would begin at daybreak — to set out on a long (equivalent to half the circumference of the earth), circular trip over the back roads of the United States. Following a circle would give a purpose — to come around again — where taking a straight line would not. And I was going to do it by living out of the back end of a truck. But how to begin a beginning? A strange sound interrupted my tossing. I went to the window, the cold air against my eyes. At first I saw only starlight. Then they were there. Up in the March blackness, two entwined skeins of snow and blue geese honking north, an undulating W-shaped configuration across the deep sky. white bellies glowing eerily with the reflected light from town, necks stretched northward. Then anot…
January 22, 2026 at 6:34 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
1/Took a tumble off my bike this morning. Riding south on the Burke-Gilman Trail, thru the S-turn where it crosses 6th Ave NW. It was 6am & no one else was around so I tried to take a nice, smooth line. It was cold enough the pavement was potentially black icy so sharps turns = not ideal. #bikesky
A screenshot of google map showing a section of bike path with an S curve consisting of two 90 degree turns. A green arrow shows the cyclists intended path thru the turn. Another red arrow shows where it pedal made contact with the metal base of a broken bollard on the inner part of the first turn. A red star with the word "Ouch!" indicates where he crashed to the ground after this.
January 22, 2026 at 5:43 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
The mountain was out this morning and I was back down by the water, hoping the sound of waves would calm my mind. #photography #fujifilm #pnw #longexposure
Mt Rainier appearing in purple tinged shadow an hour before sunrise, seen across Puget Sound waters blurred by the long exposure (40 seconds) The bottom third of the mountain is cloaked in a marine layer and the sky changes tone from orange gold to light blue.
January 22, 2026 at 3:36 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Spent the weekend at a place with no tv, no internet, no cell service and unseasonably perfect weather. Yesterday morning I was stood on a beach under a sky full of stars on the western edge of American 2 hrs before sunrise, taking photos, catching a shooting star. #photography #fujifilm #sunrise
A night scene taken in long exposure so that the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean smooth and blur. The top 2/3rds of the frame are a sky full of stars, with the sky just pinkening in the hours before sunrise. A bright light in the middle of the frame on the hard edge of the horizon could be the rising sun or a setting moon, but is just the light from an early morning fishing boat. The streak of a shooting star rests in the sky just above it.
January 21, 2026 at 3:32 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
If you don't support equal rights for everyone, you don't support them for anyone, you & yours included.

As I've had to say w/increased forcefulness to people I know considering going squishy on trans rights b/c "it'll make D's more electable." I hope nothing bad happens to this lady, but JFC.
cingraham.bsky.social Chris Ingraham @cingraham.bsky.social · 3d
Incredible quote here from a Somali small business owner in Minneapolis who voted for Trump. minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/19/a...
Voting for Trump — and regretting it Sharif, the Madina Mall shop owner who fears she may have to return to the bad old days of having a boss, gave out an exasperated sigh. “Would you believe if I told you I voted for this man?” she said, referring to Trump. Sharif is not politically active, but in 2024, some campaigners came to her shop and told her that Trump would be good for business and against the LGBTQ agenda. “I was immediately hooked,” she said. She voted Republican for the first time. Now, chagrined, she said, “I never thought the man I put in office would come for my family, make me financially struggle and cause me so much fear that I carry my passport when I go to the bathroom,” she said, pointing at the mall’s bathrooms. “I feel as though the weapon I built is coming to kill me and my people,” she said.
January 20, 2026 at 11:38 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Stuff from my home, not in my home. See alt text for details. #photography #stuffinmyhouse
Three small figures sit on three pieces of shelf fungus attached to a wet log with bright green moss along the top of it. From left to right, there is a 2” tall cheap wooden depiction of a round-bellied Buddha type character with arms raised, eyes closed and an ecstatic smile. It was once stained dark cherry oak, but it has faded in many places with age. I got this along with 3 other Buddha figures for $5 at the Kane County Flee circa 1995 or so. At home, in lives as part of a small display along with the next figures described in a reclaimed crimson pot planted with succulents and also decorated with a neat rock and shells from Seattle beaches and a worn piece of driftwood from a beach on the Pacific coast of Mexico. In the middle is Chinese “mud men” representation of two elderly Chinese men playing Go, rescued from a long ago failed attempt at maintaining a Bonsai tree purchased in a Central IL mall for me as a gift in the 90s. One figure is wearing a white robe and the other a blue robe as they sit and gesture over their game as they talk, tho both are missing hands lost to poor packing in various moves. Finally there is a 2” tall wooden Japanese bobblehead figure depicting a woman with black painted on hair wearing a painted on kimono. The kimono has a flower pattern and black trim and the paint is worn in places. The body of the figure is slightly conical and the head is round and squat like a pumpkin with a bulbous top know I inherited this from a cousin who served as a Naval nurse in Japan after WWII, so it is at least 70 years old. This cousin also introduced me to the Hardy Boys novels which taught me to love reading.
January 7, 2026 at 12:05 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
(late posting) Ballard Locks, New Year's Day morning. #photography.
The Ballard Locks scene from the top of a grassy terraced slope. It is a long exposure so the swirling water flowing from the spillway is smoothing out into long abstract white shapes on the dark blue water. Lights also reflect on the water, and in the background, the low skyline of Ballard is just visible.
January 6, 2026 at 12:55 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Looked up yesterday morning and saw the moon for the first time in a while. #photography
A 98% full waxing gibbous moon appears in the center of the frame in the blue morning sky bounded by wispy clouds.
January 5, 2026 at 11:04 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Peace. #photography
A wreath strung with fairy lights hangs in a window, with a sky turning to sunset in the background. A gold ornament depicting the word "Peace" hags in the middle of the wreath.
December 26, 2025 at 2:37 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Back of an Uber, some suburban road somewhere, in the dark, Christmas lights reflecting in a retention pond, Piano man cross fades into Don Maclean, on the way to pick up a rental car so I can drive to Iowa. The holidays just means driving between places in the cold.
December 23, 2025 at 3:03 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Our Charlie Brown tree. I found it a few years ago sitting on the curb with a "Free" sign tacked to it. After 4 days unclaimed, I claimed it. Someday when I'm ready, I'll take it into the mountains somewhere and plant it.
A small, 3" tall evergreen tree in a white pot in the corner of an apartment. It is strung with fairy lights and there are glass ball ornaments of various colors hanging from its branches. A green and white striped Santa hat sits on top in lieu of a star. It is dark outside and the fairy lights cast a warm glow on the white walls and reflect in the black window behind it. ON the window sill from right to left is a just visible mint plant, an empty red pot, and a clear vase full of unshelled peanuts I put out for the crows who visit our balcony daily.
December 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
The Needle's lost its head. Lovely morning for a ride after returning home from our Thanksgiving trip, checking the model number of our Radpower battery, and finding it isn't one of the ones that might explode. Small victories. #photography #bikesky
Seen from Kerry Park, the Seattle downtown skyline sits under a layer of fog in the early morning dark. The fog sits low enough the observation deck of the Space Needle is hidden. A streetlight illuminates the foreground and a bike with tail and headlights glowing sits on a dirt patch in the foreground.
December 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
h/t @seattlebikeblog.com
This sucks because of the danger, and because Radpower is probably going out of business, so not sure if it's worth replacing the battery. Love our Radrunner Plus, made my gf a bike rider, got 5 years/ 8k+ miles out of it, and now it's probably bricked.
cpsc.gov U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission @cpsc.gov · Nov 24
CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using Batteries for E-Bikes from Rad Power Bikes Due to Fire Hazard; Risk of Serious Injury or Death www.cpsc.gov/Warnings/202...
Rad power bikes battery
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Had a moment this morning when I was worried I was about to find out why it's called a "murder of crows." That sound they make when they all take flight . . . three joggers and I spent just stood there watching in awe. Nature in the city. #crows #corvids #birdsky
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
I’ve had both my original outbound and return flights cancelled this week. but I figured it was a small inconvenience if it meant people got to keep their healthcare. I guess all this was for nothing then. Fuck the cowards.
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Sex pest, killer of grandparents, racist, sore loser, entitled nepo, scofflaw. As a former NYC dweller, it was a nice coincidence to be back visiting the city and getting see this absolute tool of a human get his ass handed to him. To quote Nelson Muntz “Ha-Ha!”
coreydu.bsky.social Corey duBrowa @coreydu.bsky.social · Nov 4
Cuomo parking his OJ-mobile in the bike lane says pretty much everything about his campaign
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Red sky at morning #photography
The underside of a low layer of morning clouds glows red fading to purple from the still to rise sun, reflected in the water of Portage Bay. Boat sheds line the shoreline on the left and the buildings and their lighted windows shine from the University District. The yet to rise sun turns the underside of the morning cloud layer deep red to purple pink. The colors are reflected in the water of Salmon Bay, which fills the lower half of the frame. In the right frame middle distance are the fishing vessels of Seattle Fishermans terminal and left mid frame the low rise of the Fremont neighborhood is visible. The Ballard Bridge, just visible in the distance, divides the frame in half. A motion blurred cyclist zips through the frame on the opposite sidewalk across Fremont Bridge under the yellow glow of streetlamp as the cloudy morning sky turns red with the rising sun. The trussed form of the Aurora Bridge crosses the top of the frame over the just visible waters of north Lake Union while the lights of Eastlake twinkle in the background across the water.
October 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
If $25/year is too much, no worries. But for a lot of us, ~$2 is doable. Then pay Flaming Hydra $3/month & you get a bunch of great writing for $60/yr. I like pubs that are either collective or can pay freelancers. Assigned Media, Defector, 404Media & Welcome to Hell World are great too.
theflytrapmedia.com The Flytrap @theflytrapmedia.com · Oct 23
Sometimes we receive complaints from people who'd like to read Flytrap content for free. We understand the frustration around paywalls in an increasingly dire financial landscape for many folks, so we also want to be honest about our financials. Let's talk about what it costs to run the Flytrap.
October 23, 2025 at 11:42 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
From a foggy morning. #photography
In the foggy early morning dark, a two lane road with a yellow dashed center line runs in a gentle S-curve beyond the vanishing point thru a barren industrial area under streetlamps strung with power lines and suffused with a foggy glow. A chain link fence guarding an empty lot is just visible on the left and there is a For rent sign offering land on the opposite side of the road.
October 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Listen man, if a transphobe or a nazi wants to vote to stop the fascists go for it. But if you think fascism is a lesser evil than trans people existing, if imposing your bigotry on everyone trumps every other value you hold as the condition for your vote, well then fuck off. Fix your heart or die.
October 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Rain damped morning, Discovery Park, Seattle. #photography
In the dark early morning, a mid-sized SUV sits in silhouette parked alongside an empty two-lane road, just on the edge of a pool of light cast by the nearby streetlight, which leaves everything outside of it in dark shadow. You can see the mist of falling rain caught under the light, and a yellow pedestrian crossing sign sits are the far right edge of the frame.
October 20, 2025 at 4:26 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Oh well, Mariners. Not my team, but living here the excitement of the fans is a lot of fun. I didn't live in Chicago when the Cubs won, so I hope the Mariners win & I get to experience the second-hand thrill of it. That looks more like Supersonics green to me tho. Maybe my WB is off? #photography
The Seattle Space Needle seen from GasWork park in the dark early morning sky. It is lit up green, (I assume in honor of the Mariners even tho that looks like Supersonics green). In the foreground are three lampposts of increasing height from left to right, and telephoto compression makes the Space Needle look like it is in line with them as the tallest lamppost on the right. Lights from buildings shine at the base of the needle.
October 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Finally watched the John Oliver piece on the new head of CBS News, who I'd never heard speak. The unearned self-regarding smugness that just oozes from every word . . . dear god. Just the immature teenage belief that no one has ever thought such profound thoughts before. A caricature of a person.
October 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
jrmacd.bsky.social
Space Needle. I don't really like it when it's light out at 5am in June but 730am sunrises are also just kind of silly. The sun should come up between 615-630am all year. #photography
The brightly lit Seattle Space Needle in the dark early morning dark seen down a leafy side street with scattered parked cars and pools of light from streetlamps. The sky is blue black with a few faintly visible stars as the it begins to lighten. Some of the Seattle skyline is just visible behind it
October 13, 2025 at 11:39 PM