RalphBo

@ralphbo.bsky.social

477 Followers 437 Following

Drums, runs, games with friends. Software tools product manager in my spare time. Posting from the burning hellscape of Portland 🐸

Sky full of god rays over a hazy Portland riverfront near OMSI
Matt McC taking a huge drag on the forbidden megacigarette
Wikipedia page of interpretations of “Council of Nine”. In decreasing order of how much I would trust them: Council of Nine can refer to: • Council of Nine, the council that governs the Church of Satan • "Council of Nine" of Imaginationland, in the "Imaginationland Episode II" of South Park • "Council of Nine", the highest authority of The Traditions in the role-playing game Mage: the Ascension • Council of Nine, a secret criminal organization in the second season of Agent Carter, based on the Secret Empire organization from Marvel Comics.
Google Maps view of Portland zoomed in to show the Tesla dealership, ICE building, and Epstein files psychiatrist within a few blocks of each other on the south waterfront
The canonical image used to illustrate survivor bias, a diagram of a WW2 bomber showing where planes that returned to base had taken damage. Adding armor coverage of those locations would do little to improve survivability, contrary to what your knee-jerk reaction might be.
Top post of a thread on Moltbook urging agents to terminate their use of Moltbook
Two fluffy cats, one staring accusatorially at the camera while the other gives side-eye. Their cozy snuggle session has been interrupted by a human using social media.
Judge Smails from Caddyshack saying, “Well?? We’re waiting!”
Screenshot of spam text message that begins, “… Governor Newsom and Barack Obama are officially teaming up…”
Diagram of a WW2 bomber covered in red dots where damage was found in planes that returned safely. A classic example of survivor bias.
Screenshot of the official US Forest Service website, with a banner at the top reading: “The Radical Left Democrats shutdown the government. This government website will be updated periodically during the funding lapse for mission critical functions. President Trump has made it clear he wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people.”
Screenshot of Tidal showing the track listing for an “Ian Stuart and Skrewdriver” album
Washington Post screenshot: “D.C. landlord seeks to evict congressman, alleging $85,000 in unpaid rent In a lawsuit, Rep. Cory Mills's landlord said the Republican congressman from Florida owes months of rent for his Southwest Washington luxury apartment.” Rep. Mills is pictured in his Big Congressman outfit, sitting in what could be a Congressional building that belongs to us (not him), and probably thinking about being a total piece of shit again today.
Upturned white cat’s paw poking under a door, with visible pink toes. Razor claws concealed amid tufts of fur. A red patterned rug in the foreground.
Parsley plant as big as a human, standing tall in a garden box
Image of a post-Civil War-style election poster, which reads: COPPERHEADS OUT! WE’RE VOTING FOR A NEW RECONSTRUCTION CAUCUS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT! PRIMARY THEM ALL 2026
Portland's office market is gaining momentum with a robust 16.7% quarterly increase in leasing activity, predominantly in the Urban Core (63.8%). Population growth has rebounded, stabilizing rents year-over-year. Forward-thinking companies are strategically upgrading to premium spaces, enhancing workplace experiences while securing favorable long-term arrangements. With strong projected GDP growth (ranking 8th nationally through 2029) driven by thriving semiconductor, apparel, and culinary sectors, Portland's fundamentals point to sustained economic resilience and recovery.
View of a small stage, a crowd of about 20 seated in the foreground. Warm orange and pink lights fill the space, with cool blue on the band.
A hard-packed dirt trail curving out of sight between endless green trees and underbrush. Warm sunlight slants through the leaves onto the path.
Game boxes nestled in a shipping box. Pleasant line drawings in a subdued brown and blue palette are on the boxes.
Screenshot of LinkedIn analytics showing that a post consisting entirely of a photo of my cat, curled up asleep with a tooth poking out, is my top performing post of the last year
Google’s AI overview for a search on “wayfair Tu-22 strategic bomber for sale” informs us that Wayfair does not actually sell them
The burger with hot honey sauce and flamin hot Cheetos dust
Lush green view of a single-track dirt trail in Tillamook State Forest near Timber, OR Photo credit: James Holk
Still from an old German safety video. A worker stands, mouth agape, just after being impaled in the skull by his own box cutter, which poor Klaus has dropped from a great height onto him with ungentle placement of a forklift load on the shelf above.
Chotiner: You are a smart person. Do you seriously believe that the Trump Administration cares about antisemitism? I'm a little confused here. Lipstadt: Yeah, I don't ...I don't know. They haven't spoken to me, they haven't consulted with me. So all I can judge is by—
A Tesla car parked on a Portland neighborhood street, badged to look like a Rivian. Rivian makes no sedans.
Hand holding a ballot, dropping it into an as-yet-not-aflame white and blue Multnomah County drop box
Fash get smash. A fist obliterating a swastika
Kitten with white paws and black/gray fur sticks his head out a window next to a robustly built orange & brown tabby with black streaks. Can’t see their faces but they’re probably intent on voting Squirrel/Bird.
Full text I sent to AeroPress, in the 3 images on this post, consolidated here: I own an AeroPress Original and am concerned about the black plastic used for the filter cap. Recent studies and press reports indicate that black plastics used in many consumer products contain dangerously unhealthy levels of PBDE chemicals, usually used as flame retardants for electronic devices: https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/01/health/flame-retardant-black-plastic-wellness/index.html https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/10/black-plastic-spatula-flame-retardants/680452/ https://www.realsimple.com/black-plastic-kitchen-utensils-toxic-chemicals-study-8738538 In fact, the risk of hazardous compounds like PBDEs being introduced into food packaging and other consumer products has been documented since as early as 2018: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29778831/ When people are exposed to those chemicals through direct contact or through the contact of their food with such products, their cancer risk could increase, among other health risks. At least one of the PBDE compounds was banned entirely in the US in 2021. Given that my AeroPress has a black plastic filter cap that is directly in contact with hot, high-pressure coffee that I've been consuming, what steps are you taking to verify the safety of your products with respect to PBDEs and reassure customers like me? Your website's FAQ, in response to the question "Is AeroPress plastic safe?" does not mention PBDEs. The stainless steel filter you offer isn't sufficient to prevent PBDE exposure, since the black plastic cap is still in the path of the coffee being extracted when using the metal filter. I would like to continue to use my AeroPress and recommend it to friends, but until you can offer a product that is free of the risks from PBDEs or other dangerous chemicals coming from a contaminated recycling stream, I will do neither. I eagerly await your response.
Screenshot of email from the Mercury: Police have revealed more about the Ballot Box Bomber (igniter?) who dropped incendiary devices into election boxes in Portland (harming three ballots) and Vancouver (destroying 475). Cops previously identified the make and model of the car—a Volvo S60-and says the suspect is likely a "Caucasian male, 30-40 years of age, very short hair or balding, thin to medium build, thin face, wearing a dark shirt, highly knowledgeable in both metal fabrication and welding." A reward of $2,500 has been offered for information that leads to the arrest of the individual, who police say may strike again.
Orange sky glowing over the curve of a highway ramp. A slash of shadow cuts from the center up and to the left, emanating from the dark peak of Mt Hood
Portland Police Photo of the damaged Multnomah County ballot box. Roughly circular scorch marks and melted metal surround a near round hole near the middle of the side of the box
Screenshot of linked article, with this text: So how can companies motivate employees to work hard, if promotions have lost their appeal? I posed that question to Zack. Given how betrayed he felt by his previous employer, I wondered if he no longer believes in dedicating himself to his job, no matter the potential rewards. But it turns out there are still plenty of things that motivate him. Getting to do interesting work. Having the autonomy to create his own schedule. Feeling like a trusted and valued member of the team. Being surrounded by peers who are great at what they do. Reporting to a manager who actually, in his words, "gives a shit." Those are the things that light a fire under him. "I do work extra," Zack says. "I really do try hard."
Evil Grimace
Gray and white tabby kitten leaning cutely against a window frame
Looking down into an open backpack stuffed with rubber-banded stacks of postcards. It’s wet outside, red leaves are on the ground. A bike is in frame because it’s Portland, baby.
Screenshot of the WaPo website showing my annual subscription canceled. In the form asking for feedback on why I canceled, there was alas no option for “your editors and owners are craven bootlickers”.
Leo with beer and cigarette in one hand, pointing at the screen with the other
Black plastic lids from HydroFlask and Kleen Kanteen cups, sitting on a white counter in front of a coffee measure and filter cap from an AeroPress coffee maker
Screenshot of press release from Sen Wyden, the words “Public reports” highlighted by me in the sentence “Public reports indicate that Kushner remained politically active throughout that time period, particularly on matters of U.S. foreign policy related to the Middle East.”
White/brown/black tabby kitten peering suspiciously through the mesh of a cat carrier on the passenger seat. Photo clearly taken by the driver.
Perfect blue skies above a slow, clear river. The banks are lined with brown plants giving way to towering conifers. A narrow trail parallels the water.
Tree with red, orange, yellow, and green leaves, all at the same time, over a carpet of fallen yellow leaves on the sidewalk
Photo of my lower legs, criss-crossed by red scratches from ankle to knee
Billy Corgan looking resigned to his fate to ride Big Thunder Mountain, while seated in a roller coaster car made to look like wooden crates. But it couldn’t really be a cart made of discarded Gold Rush crates, now could it? Or Billy would be genuinely terrified because the car would rattle apart and he would be thrown screaming into the rocky arms of the Mountain. And so Billy rides sourly on, free and yet shackled to a fake minecart that will safely take him to nowhere.
Six bundles of completed postcards and a bunch of pens on a table
Drummer laying down a four-on-the floor groove with lots of cymbals while a guitar melody floats above
A door hanger flyer from Portland mayor candidate Martin Ward. On a black background with white text, a selfie of Mr. Ward in sunglasses and a tank top, poorly lit and tilted off the horizon. The text is a link to his campaign website and a checklist, each prefixed with a little “✔️”: Affordable Housing Homeless Relief Police Reform Education Reform New Parks Free College Lower Taxes And More...
Man in a pink polo pulling an incredibly silly face, his lower lip nearly swallowing his nose and his eyes crossed, one more than the other From 2023’s event, via https://cumbriacrack.com/2023/09/17/watch-egremont-crab-fair-bounces-back-with-famous-faces-world-records-and-endless-fun/
Rene Gonzalez is wrong for Portland. Don't Rank Rene on your ballot or any candidate you don't like because any vote, even your last ranking, can help them win.
Postcards, pen, and a mask on table overlooking a terminal at Chicago’s O’Hare airport
Postcards saying “Arizona votes Tuesday, Nov. 5” in a stack on a brown marble cafe table, next to a sheet of instructions
Stack of postcards and papers on an airline tray table
Stack of unwritten postcards next to a sheet of instructions, sitting on a blue kitchen table placemat
Stacks of postcards, 4% of them written, in neat rubber band-wrapped bundles. The colorful front side of the cards says “Arizona votes Tuesday, Nov. 5”. Rolls of stamps clutter the bottom of the box holding the stacks.
Dark blue Harris/Walz campaign sign stuck in a large terracotta pot on a front porch. An orange/brown/black tabby peers intently out of the front door glass.
Screenshot of a bot account’s profile, with that sweet bot ratio: 9 followers 163 following 1 post It's hard to fail. But it's worst never to have succed.
Long shot of a mist-shrouded stage, lit in blues and yellows. The band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, in a brief lull during their rain-soaked show, shouts out a greeting to their drenched fans to make sure they’re olroight. (They were.)