best turnout we've had yet

also we met some great dogs (and a parrot)
#nokings

THIS is the kind of local organizing that wins

and the kind of reporting out that shows supporters where their votes (and their donations) are going

This way.

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed this week

maybe you are too

here's some baby birds

@sarae Same, and thanks for the birds. This morning, while on a video call with my therapist, I saw Mother Turkey bring her babies onto the deck outside my window for flying lessons. I didn't get any pictures (other than turning off background blur on the webcam and pointing it out the window), but it was a welcome departure from talking about [gestures at everything].

Anyway, here's what the ones last year looked like.

@Starry1086 That particular bike is more of a whine than a purr. At any rate, I suspect if I started the bike, she'd be off like a shot.

@ytc1 I've considered electric motorcycles, but range and charging are issues: We typically log upwards of 200 miles overnight (plus 200 miles each way getting to and from this particular event). E-bikes with swappable batteries will probably be an option in the future, but we're generally relying on volunteers providing their own equipment, and we haven't connected with the volunteer with a pickup truck and a pair of well-lit e-bikes yet.

I will say that, in general, the runners seem to like having motorcycles out there. Some of that may be the misplaced notion that, if necessary, we can whisk them away from a dangerous situation (spoiler: that has never happened), but I think, at three in the morning, in the middle of nowhere, the noise of an approaching motorbike is a comfort to them. Probably not the exhaust, but we aren't generally on the throttle much where runners are present.

@coldmothertrucker.bsky.social Delegating.

In other #motorcycle news, I got the red bike out of storage ('storage' being my neighbor's much larger, much tidier garage) in preparation for our move to the Big City. Battery seems to be holding a charge, tires seem to be holding air.

Trust BMW to make the OEM tank bag the perfect size for my shop manager.

#CatsOfMastodon #CaturdayEveryDay

Kind of a longshot but here goes. We've got a last minute opening for a #motorcycle #volunteer at an overnight event in central #Oregon on June 19-21.

What's involved?

Basically riding your motorcycle back and forth at low speed over a 12-mile route from sunset to sunrise, as Cascade Lakes Relay runners make their way along the (paved) race course overnight. You ride slowly, keep your eyes open, help when needed, pass messages between relay points, and act as a general deterrent to anyone who may want to mess with the runners. We're not cops, we're not medics, we're not Valentino Rossi: we're just highly caffeinated people on bikes, riding slowly, helping out.

Why is it 3 days?

Rested riders are alert riders. Since most of us aren't local to La Pine, the organization gets some motel rooms and we show up Thursday evening, get a good night's sleep, nap and rest and bum around on Friday, and start patrolling at sunset. When we're done at sunrise on Saturday, we grab a nap back at the motel before checkout.

Well this all very interesting. Where do I sign up?

There are registration links here:
https://eyesonwheels.org/get-involved/

And, of course, feel free to ask me questions.

@stavvers And, after they took his driver's license, he couldn't even move one square in any direction.

@amberage

Took some inspiration from Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (check it out, it's an awesome book). An alternate world with rooms filled with statues, where one can slowly go mad.

#art #traditionalart #dotwork #stippling #statue #sculpture

@rez My mother-in-law, who's lived half a century close enough to Washington to know better, says Warshington.

What's kind of unsettling is that, just in the last 5 years, the Warshington R has propagated itself to other words, like "terlet".

@faerye

Vaseline. Vaseline (or, indeed, lip balm) on the lenses works a treat. Causes no lasting damage but places the vehicle out of use for some time. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/10/uber-uk-trial-of-self-driving-taxis-brought-forward-to-spring-2026

#Oregon just became the first state to end private equity and corporate control of doctor and clinical practices.

This is huge. I do wish California and other states would follow suit, but the corporate money is so entrenched in politics here that it would take a miracle for it to happen.

https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2025/06/09/bill-enacting-nations-strictest-limits-on-corporate-health-care-influence-signed-by-gov-kotek/

@rachel "landed" = "lenses"?

When you stare into the abyss and the abyss, without a word, hands you your usual order right away.

pfahahaha massive props

I would love to see YOU ARE ON INDIAN LAND on it before it comes down

#LandBack

Uncle Sam billboard off I-5 near Chehalis bought by Chehalis Tribe  | The Daily Chronicle
http://www.chronline.com/stories/uncle-sam-billboard-off-i-5-near-chehalis-bought-by-chehalis-tribe,382246

This.

@catsalad "Look, I've given up trying to tell you how to live your life, but, seriously, just hand me your phone and I'll dry it off and put it in a bag of rice."