Rachael

@r343l

Disabled bike mom, transpo activism, software spelunker. They/them. Contact me other ways (signal: rachael.49). Also post: and Posts deleted irregularly.

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Rachael@r343l· 24d

One of the most damning realities that people with medical training report is not being allowed to bring medical gauze to Gaza. You would think that alone would be convincing that the violence against the people of Gaza isn’t about protecting Israeli lives. From www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Shah flew out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 4 with a bag stuffed with warm clothes to leave with patients, as well as scrubs, extra shoes, protein bars, backpacking foods, toiletries, a prepaid throwaway phone, an iPad and tampons and pads, as gauze was not allowed.

Rachael@r343l· 25d

Biking the vote as often as possible! #Seattle

I apparently can't take a not goofy selfie but in my defense I'm bracing my brompton with the arm the hand holding the phone. Anyway I am holding two ballot return envelopes next to a King County elections dropbox opening. I have a silly half smile showing my tooth gap, eyes not looking "at" the camera, wearing a green helmet and wearing an orange cut off tshirt repping Beacon Hill Mutual Aid.

Rachael@r343l· 27d

Look at this delightful picture of my state senator and future D2 CM Rebecca Saldaña! Saldaña joined the first doorknocking event I organized in the 37th in 2017! I was so nervous and unconfident and her showing up helped a lot. She's been outstanding ever since whenever I've reached out to her.

Screenshot of the section of the linked endorsement post with a picture of Saldaña on a upright bicycle wearing a white helmet and a very multi-color patterned on white shawl.

Rachael@r343l· 27d

Today's poetry is by Rumi. From Gold, translated by Haleh Liza Gafori. #poetry

What else will a smiling bud do
but bloom in laughter?

What else will a flagpole do
but grip its wind-whipped flag?

If a ripe pomegranate on a branch
doesn't open its ruby mouth to the birds,
what else will it do?

Moonlight seduces you.
Sunlight feeds you.
What more would you want them to do?

When a shadow sees the sun's face, it bows.
When lovers catch a whiff of your fragrant shirt,
they tear off their own.

And the dead?
What else can they do but lie stone still?

Love, you strung my heart with gold.
What else can I do but sing?

Rachael@r343l· 27d

Gaza has been under blockade or military assault for two decades and before that it was under Israeli occupation since 1967. Generations of people have grown up asked by the rest of the world to always forgive repeated attacks and siege.

And We Live On ...

And another day in Gaza Another day in Palestine
A day in prison And we live on
Despite Israel's very much identified flying objects That we see more than our family and friends And despite Israel's death sentences
Like lead
Cast upon the head
As we sleep
Like acid rain
Gnawing at our life
Clinging to it like a flea to a kitten And stuffed in our throats
The moment we say "Amen"
To the prayers of old women and men
Despite Israel's birds of death

Hovering only two meters from our breath
From our dreams and prayers
Blocking their ways to God.
Despite that.
We dream and pray,
Clinging to life even harder
Every time a dear one's life
Is forcibly rooted up.
We live.
We live.
We do.

May 27, 2012

A poem by Refaat Alareer, father, teacher and writer, 1979-2023.

Rachael@r343l· Jul 4

A story of an often not included motivation for the independence movement and written into the Declaration of Independence. ‪overcast.fm/+AA6EBkeGFUs‬

The last and narratively climactic of the grievances in the Declaration of Independence reads: "He has excited domestic Insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions."

Rachael@r343l· Jul 1

In my random (literally I roll a d6) set of six books to read from everyday, there is currently one on Zen practice from Shunryu Suzuki. Here an excerpt on a section on the meaning of bowing.

After you have practiced for a while, you will realize that it is not possible to make rapid, extraordinary progress. Even though you try very hard, the progress you make is always little by little. It is not like going out in a shower in which you know when you get wet. In a fog, you do not know you are getting wet, but as you keep walking you get wet little by little. If your mind has ideas of progress, you may say, "Oh, this pace is terrible!" But actually it is not. When you get wet in a fog it is very difficult to dry yourself. So there is no need to worry about progress. It is like studying a foreign language; you cannot do it all of a sudden, but by repeating it over and over you will master it. This is the Soto way of practice. We can say either that we make progress little by little, or that we do not even expect to make progress. Just to be sincere and make our full effort in each moment is enough. There is no Nirvana outside our practice.

Rachael@r343l· Jun 28

Such a "simple" view on the grass near Stan Sayres dock on Lake Washington in #Seattle and yet so glorious.

A lawn of short yellow grass slopes down to water. In the distance are short hills on each side of the frame with the (barely visible) I-90 bridge between. A blue sky with poofy white to grey clouds fills most if the image.

Rachael@r343l· Jun 15

Posting this because we need more smiling bike transit selfies!

Obligatory bike-train (station) selfie from earlier this afternoon waiting for the 2 Line. I'm in a sleeveless button down that is red/black plaid with a brompton behind (bag and helmet on front mount). My hair is amazing and my teenage self would be shocked that I would let a photo of it like this be taken.

Rachael@r343l· Jun 3

JUST HOW could anyone make this mistake?? It has to be intentional.

Rachael@r343l· May 30

This morning's Rumi. From Water, translated by Haleh Liza Gafori.

GIVE THE musicians honey, God, God, God.
Give the drummers iron hands.

They devoted their hands and feet to Love.
Give strength and health to their hands and feet.

Praising sound, praising creation,
they sow joy.
Praise their efforts.
Applaud the harvest.

Fill their cups at streams flowing through paradise
Their melodies water our thirsty hearts.

In their longing, doves coo, singers chant—
the empty sky sings.

Build the musicians a sturdy tower,
stone upon stone, grace upon grace.

Rachael@r343l· May 26

And for folks willing to bike a little extra, the 2 Line gets you pretty close and going thru Colman Park is delightful.

Screenshot of map of Seattle centered around Mount Baker Park showing a blue line for the route from Judkins station along the I-90 trail, then up to the part of Lake Washjngton Blvd that has no car restrictions (but is pretty chill) with a back and forth section down to the water thru Colman Park.

Rachael@r343l· May 25

We got home early enough from weekend church family camp that I had a chance to go bike Lake Washington Blvd! It was raining but a #brompton ride with a rain cape is a lot easier to manage with no cars. Saw plenty of folks out despite the weather!

Selfie of me smiling in a houndstooth pattern rain cape (it has reflective stuff in it) over my green helmet. The road is most of the picture but can see the lake peaking out.

Rachael@r343l· May 21

A large majority of the U.S. public believes the state of Israel is committing significant wrongs. I doubt that most even know about the decades long naval blockade or the ceasefires that aren't.

GSF is a part of a coalition of activist organizations that sponsored more than 60 vessels that sailed toward Gaza this spring, with participants hailing from more than 40 countries. The flotilla’s mission is to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians living there who have endured two and a half years of genocidal warfare at the hands of Israel. Since a ceasefire was brokered in October 2025, Israeli forces have continued to attack Palestinians, killing almost 900 people according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Rachael@r343l· May 16

Also got a pic of the rainbow FROM THE TRAIN.

A multicolor slash of light meeting the trees off in the distance thru the train door glass. The overhead wires slice across the to such that the rainbow seems to start from them.

Rachael@r343l· May 16

Looking west and east from Judkins station this evening!

A tree line past the platform with the sun setting in yellow orange behind clouds breaking up and blue peaking out.

A rainbow against grey clouds off behind the freeway wall. The train platform is on the right.

Rachael@r343l· May 16

Cute little bird that was hanging right here at Judkins station right near me until the train arrived!

cute hand-size but chonky birb with a grey and black chest, a dark brown or black back and some hints of brighter colors on the head. it is chillin on the yellow textured panel at the edge of s light rail platform.

Rachael@r343l· May 9

Uh, @seattledot.bsky.social I reported these Healthy Street signs out of place – one blocking a curb ramp – 15 days ago and still there. I can't move it!

Street with signs on poles in big cement feet. One is half blocking a curbramp with yellow tactile bumps.

Rachael@r343l· May 9

Extremely funny to see this NYT nonsense on a morning when I got this fundraising email from Democratic Representative Adam Smith. It's not exactly running on climate but it's a targeted climate/gas price message that presumably the consultants say will land well.

Screenshot of fundraising email from Rep. Adam Smith with his name and outline of state at top with photos of him with Chase Cain clearly talking over a video meeting. Text:

Rachael,

I sat down recently with Chase Cain, a former meteorologist and YouTube creator, to talk about something that doesn't get enough honest conversation: energy, the environment, and what it's actually going to take to protect this planet.

Watch the conversation here.

Here's the short version: as long as we depend on fossil fuels, we will depend on Middle East oil. Drill as much as you want here. It's still a global market. The only real energy independence is getting off oil entirely.

We can do that. Wind and solar were too expensive 20 years ago. We fixed that. We can fix the rest of it too, if we actually get to work.

Trump is going in the opposite direction. And it's going to cost us.

I need your help to keep fighting back. Chip in $5 today and join Team Smith.

Rachael@r343l· May 3

This is why someone made these stickers.

A yellow sticker with "I PARKED POORLY" followed by a checkbox list of text with lines:

Blocking sidewalk or curb cut: RCW 46.61.570

Too close to an intersection: RCW 46.61.570

In the bike lane: RCW 35.75.020

Rachael@r343l· May 2

Apparently #Seattle can have chicanes and diversion in the South End just not on the signed greenways??? I missed a turn on thr Rainier Valley greenway and ended up on a parallel street to find this at 37th north of Andover. Every other block of greenway should have these with trees planted.

Three half circle bulbed out sections in a street in a row close enough that a person driving a car would have to slow to 10 mph or less to navigate. Probably they should have greenery planted rather than bare blacktop.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 27

Ah here's the totals below. Just had to scroll furhter (the UI is hard for me). These levels I think are within the allowed max traffic for designated greenway routes.

AM peak of 644 cars at 8AM hour, PM peak of 744 from 15:45-16:45. Mid day peak at 12:45 of 438.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 27

Wow. Segment right next to Stan Syres park (the part NORTH of there is often fully closed up to Mt. Baker Beach during LWB weekends because there are no driveways or parking lots). Commute hour peak at less than 200 vehicles. In February 2026. Before 2 Line cross lake. Such a critical commute route.

Line charts showing traffic flow recorded at different times with peak hours being around 8AM and 4PM and neither above 200. On a Wednesday.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 25

Reassuring. Greenway street signs pushed off of roadway blocking curb ramp with street sign that obviously has been run into because signs knocked off. Reported to SDOT. I can't move the signs back as way too heavy.

A street with two concrete bases with signs on poles pushed way off to the side – one is blocking the yellow bumpy curb ramp.

Closer view of the easr side showing the street name signs on the ground with metal showing it possibly got hit by something.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 22

Poem for today! From Rumi in the collection "Gold" translated by Haleh Liza Gafori.

Spring is here-
fragrant, musky spring is here.

The Beloved is here,
the Soul of souls is here,
the One who welcomes everyone is here.

Wine is here, the wine of dawn is here,
wine that floods the soul with joy is here.
The cupbearer fills everyone's cup.

Clarity is here-
stones in the river pulse with sunlight.

The cure is here, the cure for every ill is here.
The friend who soothes the ache is here.

The healer is here.
The healer who's felt every shade of feeling is here.

Dance is here, the whirling dance is here.
The eternal bond and glorious breeze are here.
Poppies, basil, and the tulips' stunning eyes are here.

One is here.
One who makes someone of no one is here.

The bright moon that clears the haze is here.
The heart stirring all hearts to laughter is here.

The Beloved is here, the Soul of souls is here— and never left.
It's our eyes that come and go.

Be silent now. Let silence speak.
Surrender the syllables you count on your fingers.
The river of countless messages is here.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 20

I think they had that option once. Pretty sure I found the restrooms but no signs to say that they were but had various access control devices.

Picture of a closed door with a padlock with a badgr reader to the side and maybe an intercom system. There'ns a sign to the left reading "If intercom not working cal security (number)"

Rachael@r343l· Apr 20

Tukwila station actually DOES have toilets. They just aren't allowed to be used by the public anymore. I tried to use one a couple weekends ago and had to cross to a gas station. Emailed Sound Transit to ask & told there are none. Haven't updated this though! www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us...

Screenshot of restrooms section from link. Text reads: "This station has public restrooms available on street level. To access, find a security guard and request a token which will allow you into the restroom."

Rachael@r343l· Apr 19

If you can't even support impeachment – I don't expect it to pass – for everyone involved in unconstitutional budget cuts, snatching children off the street or authorizing air strikes on FISHING boats, then I don't believe you'll do jackshit if you win Congress. @adamsmith.house.gov

Screenshot of email from Adam Smith's campaign:

Rachael,

There is absolutely no question that Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States. But we have to think strategically about how to take that case to the American people.

Hear what I said.

Impeachment resolutions aren't going to remove Trump from office. We need Republican support in the House and Senate, and that's not happening. Introducing resolutions we can't win doesn't stop him.

Here's what does: staying focused on what Trump is doing to the American people. Gas prices are going up. Inflation is going up. Consumer confidence is at an all-time low. That's how we stop him at the ballot box. That's where I'm focused.

I'm fighting every day to hold this administration accountable. I hope you will join Team Smith with a recurring $3 contribution today.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 18

If you live or work north of Judkins station in the 23rd Ave corridor, it's a 260 foot walk from street level exit to northbound bus stop, with a street crossing to get to it. There is so much space to put the bus stop closer to the crosswalk.

Looking south towards the 23rd entrance to Judkins light rail station taken from the south end of the bus shelter. There is a wide no parking lane on both sides of the street right ip to thr crosswalk.

Rachael@r343l· Apr 15

Refaat Alareer writing in August 2022 about his young children are used to but still scared by bombings. The essay started: "Amal is now two wars old." Funded by the #UnitedStates. If you're in the US, call your senators to tell them to block the bombs. www.imeupolicyproject.org/stop-deliver...