Ian Westcott
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Ian Westcott
@ianw.org
84 followers 110 following 140 posts
We’ll see.
https://ianw.org
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New bike day!
A new Riese & Müller Transporter2 vario front-loading cargo bike with front cover/windscreen, parked on the Michael Van Leesten Bridge with the Providence skyline in the background. Gus is sitting in the front bucket under the windscreen, waving his mittened hand in front of his face. My North St. Woodford backpack pannier hangs from the rack above the rear wheel.
December 4, 2025 at 4:52 AM
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☺️
Screenshot of a push notification from the “Sky Guide” iOS app, alerting that the planet Uranus is ideally placed for observation tonight, with a computer-generated illustration of what the planet looks like. The joke is looking at butts.
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 PM
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Without downloading any new pics describe your gender.
November 20, 2025 at 1:37 AM
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Big fan of this bumper sticker we spotted on Elmwood Ave today. h/t @dangertam.bsky.social for getting the pic
The rear bumper of a dark blue Subaru Crosstrek with a Rhode Island license plate. A large white bumper sticker reads “THIS ROAD THST WE ARE SHARING IS SOCIALISM, COMRADE!” with a stylized depiction of a woman in a red blouse holding her hand up as if to gesture toward the road ahead. A smaller bumper sticker to the left reads “CAPITALISM IS A DEATH CULT” in thick white letters on a black background.
September 27, 2025 at 4:40 PM
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Found an old relic in a box of knickknacks. @ripta.com
One side of a RIPTA Providence Link trolley token, in my palm. Shiny brass coin featuring a rubber-tired RIPTA trolley emblem in the center, surrounded by an outer ring with the text “THE PROVIDENCE LINK” at the top and “781-9400” at the bottom. The other side of a RIPTA Providence Link trolley token. RIPTA logo in center, surrounded by an outer circle with the text, “GOOD FOR ONE TROLLY [sic] LINK RIDE” at the top and “1999” at the bottom.
September 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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That time my grandfather, who was a nudist and (occasionally) a pastor, was profiled in the Wall Street Journal by @jenny8lee.bsky.social:
Photocopy of the Wall Street Journal from August 11, 1997, excerpting the article “Before the Fall: Small Church Seeks Purity of Eden” by Jennifer 8. Lee. The article text cannot be reproduced here in full, but it describes the activities of Harry Westcott giving a sermon in the nude, and interviews him about nudism and Christianity.
September 18, 2025 at 9:51 PM
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Just me and my emotional support 34oz bag of peanut butter m&ms on the platform at Back Bay
My arm holding a large red bag of peanut butter m&ms, opened. A train platform is visible in the background.
August 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
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Visual depiction of the Trolley Problem with the text, “if I let go of the lever just before the trolley crosses the switch then I’m not responsible for what happens”. In this satirical interpretation of the Trolley Problem, if the switchman is holding the lever but then simply lets go, he believes he would free himself from the moral obligation to intervene.
July 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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Providence Journal headline: “Streaming is taking over TV, and Mark Patinkin is freaked out” Old man Abe Simpson yelling at a cloud
June 21, 2025 at 10:04 PM
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Thanks for the sticker, kind stranger! @thewaroncars.bsky.social
My bicycle, locked to a post at the Providence train station, with a “CARS RUIN CITIES” sticker placed in the front basket.
June 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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Also notable: Garrahy is still flanked on two sides by surface parking.
February 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
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The Amherst Railroad Hobby Show was rad.
January 26, 2025 at 2:21 AM
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Both bakeries use the same Thin Mints recipe I think
Little Brownie Bakeries’ Thin Mints ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), sugar, vegetable oil (palm kernel, palm and soybean oil), cocoa, caramel color, contains 2% or less of cocoa processed with alkali, invert sugar, leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), cornstarch, salt, sorbitan tristearate, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, oil of peppermint. ALLERGY INFO CONTAINS WHEAT AND SOY INGREDIENTS. ABC Bakeries’ Thin Mints ingredients: ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, VEGETABLE OIL SHORTENING (PALM AND PALM KERNEL OILS), COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CARAMEL COLOR, INVERT SUGAR, SALT, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA), SOY LECITHIN, PEPPERMINT OIL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY. MANUFACTURED IN A SHARED FACILITY WITH: MILK, PEANUTS, COCONUT. DIET EXCHANGE: 1.5 Carbohydrates, 1.5 Fats
January 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
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Sample Nutrition Facts from Tagalongs and Peanut Butter Patties. There are subtle differences!
Tagalongs nutrition facts: About 7 servings per container Serving size: 2 cookies (25g) Amount Per Serving Calories 140 % Daily Value* Total Fat 8g 10% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol Omg 0% Sodium 80mg 3% Total Carbohydrate 13g 5% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 8g Includes 7g Added Sugars 14% Protein 3g Vitamin D Omcg 0% Calcium Omg 0% Iron 0.7mg 2% Potassium 60mg 0% *The % Daily Value(DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. Tagalongs ingredients: Peanut butter (peanuts, sugar, hydrogenated palm oil, salt), sugar, enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), vegetable oil (palm kernel, palm and soybean oil), cocoa, contains 2% or less of invert sugar, cornstarch, salt, sorbitan tristearate, soy lecithin, leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), natural and artificial flavors, whey, partially defatted peanut flour. ALLERGY INFO CONTAINS PEANUT, WHEAT, SOY AND MILK INGREDIENTS. DIET EXCHANGE 1 Carbohydrate, 1.5 Fat Peanut Butter Patties nutrition facts: About 7 servings per container Serving size 2 cookies (25g) Amount per serving Calories 130 Total Fat 7g 9% Saturated Fat 4g 20% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 75mg 3% Total Carbohydrate 15g 5% Dietary Fiber < 1g 3% Total Sugars 9g Incl. 8g Added Sugars 16% Protein 2g Vit. D 0mcg 0% Calcium 0mg 0% Iron 0.9mg 6% Potas. 0mg 0% made with vegan ingredients *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. Peanut Butter Patties ingredients: SUGAR, PEANUT BUTTER (PEANUTS, HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, SALT), ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), VEGETABLE OIL SHORTENING (PALM KERNEL AND PALM OILS), COCOA (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), INVERT SUGAR, LEAVENING (BAKING SODA, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE, AMMONIUM BICARBONATE), SOY LECITHIN, SALT, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR. CONTAINS: SOY, WHEAT, PEANUTS. MANUFACTURED IN A SHARED FACILITY WITH: MILK, COCONUT. DIET EXCHANGE: 1 Carbohydrate, 1.5 Fats
January 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM
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My favorite tree picture: Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur, CA. August 2010
A large group of trees in the center of a square frame, with a meadow of low brush in the foreground and hills in the background. clouds hang over the hills, providing a gray backdrop to the dark green leaves. Some white wildflowers dot the light green plants in the foreground meadow. Location: Creamery Meadow, Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, CA Date: August 9, 2010
January 20, 2025 at 2:42 AM
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The old RIPTA system map in question, circa 2000
Cover of RIPTA’s system map from the year 2000, featuring a photo of RTS bus 9842 signed for route 34 bound for Providence in the foreground, and the Rhode Island state house in the background.
January 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
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We got back into Providence a few minutes late, so we missed our connection to the RIPTA 57 bus home. But I can live with our only missed connection being the last one, and @dangertam.bsky.social was able to meet us at the station, and Gus made it to bed on time.
A light blue Subaru Crosstrek parked on Gaspee Street across from the Providence Train Station and in front of the Rhode Island State House, which is lit dark blue, on the backdrop of the night sky. Leafless trees are visible as well.
December 31, 2024 at 3:53 AM
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6. Amtrak Acela 2166.

Made it!
Gus sitting at a table in an Amtrak Acela train car, with the windows of New Haven Union Station visible through the train window.
December 31, 2024 at 3:53 AM
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So when we arrived I ran up into the station, carrying Gus in my arms. Thankfully there was no line at the ticket counter, and the agent quickly swapped our tickets without issue.

(Gus really wanted to look at all the model trains in the waiting area, but we didn’t have time.)
Interior of New Haven Union Station. Gus is eyeing the models of old New Haven Railroad equipment on display above the wooden benches in the waiting area. The station ceiling has red ribbons draped across it, and a Christmas tree is visible on a balcony in the background.
December 31, 2024 at 3:53 AM
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New Haven was a much tighter connection, though, and for a little while we were running late and I thought we might not be able to change our ticket in time make the earlier connection.
Screenshot showing Amtrak train 475 arriving into New Haven at 5:25pm, 7 minutes later than the scheduled arrival time of 5:18pm Screenshot showing Amtrak train 2166 as estimated to arrive into New Haven 8 minutes early at 5:26pm, and scheduled to depart at 5:36pm.
December 31, 2024 at 3:53 AM
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• The Connecticut State House
Gus looks out the window of the southbound Amtrak Hartford Line at the dome of the Connecticut State House at dusk.
December 31, 2024 at 3:14 AM
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• Hartford Union Station

(note the missing second track)
The historic station building at Hartford Union Station, visible across the gap where a second track should be, from the window of a train on the remaining track.
December 31, 2024 at 3:14 AM
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• CTrail’s northbound Hartford Line, which fills in the gaps in Amtrak’s schedule.

Unfortunately not all trains go to Springfield, so the timing didn’t work out to integrate a CTrail segment into this trip.
A blurry Gus looking at a blurry CTrail locomotive through the train window Gus watches the northbound CTrail Hartford Line pass our southbound Amtrak Hartford Line train.
December 31, 2024 at 3:14 AM
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Other things visible from the Hartford Line:

• Freight Trains
Gus points at some freight cars in Hartford Yard through the train window Gondola rail cars in Hartford Yard. One has graffiti that reads “Happy Halloween”
December 31, 2024 at 3:14 AM
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Out-of-focus view from the Warehouse Point Railroad Bridge over the Connecticut River at sunset, as viewed through a dirty Amtrak window. Out-of-focus view from the Warehouse Point Railroad Bridge over the Connecticut River at sunset, as viewed through a dirty Amtrak window.
December 31, 2024 at 2:58 AM