Oran โอม
@oranv.com
wayfarer, civil engineer by training, transit map designer by trade. finding beauty in what’s otherwise unnoticed. Eng/ไทย. Seattle/Bothell, นนทบุรี/Bangkok, Santa Barbara.
$2 thrift store finds adding to my small collection of vintage American mugs are this Homer Laughlin mug from 1979 and another Shenango diner style mug circa 1920-1940 to pair with my 1954 mug.
January 14, 2026 at 5:05 AM
$2 thrift store finds adding to my small collection of vintage American mugs are this Homer Laughlin mug from 1979 and another Shenango diner style mug circa 1920-1940 to pair with my 1954 mug.
Reposted by Oran โอม
On my way to the Cheney City Council meeting. From the top deck!
January 14, 2026 at 1:31 AM
On my way to the Cheney City Council meeting. From the top deck!
45,000 views and 3,800 likes so far on this @uytaelee.bsky.social and @sightline.org YouTube video summarizing why elevators in North America are so expensive, unreliable and in far fewer buildings than the rest of the world. Fix the damn codes.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 12, 2026 at 10:52 PM
45,000 views and 3,800 likes so far on this @uytaelee.bsky.social and @sightline.org YouTube video summarizing why elevators in North America are so expensive, unreliable and in far fewer buildings than the rest of the world. Fix the damn codes.
Reposted by Oran โอม
Also, “Why Pad Kaprao is Thailand’s Real National Dish” (2022), a correct opinion. kenlmathis.com/2022/05/05/w...
Although for some reason UNESCO has listed Tomyum Kung as intangible cultural heritage. ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tomyum...
Although for some reason UNESCO has listed Tomyum Kung as intangible cultural heritage. ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tomyum...
Why Pad Kaprao is Thailand’s Real National Dish
In Berkeley, California, one of the most popular Thai restaurants is a little place called Thai Basil. It is popular probably not because of the taste — with my admittedly picky Thai taste buds, mo…
kenlmathis.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Also, “Why Pad Kaprao is Thailand’s Real National Dish” (2022), a correct opinion. kenlmathis.com/2022/05/05/w...
Although for some reason UNESCO has listed Tomyum Kung as intangible cultural heritage. ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tomyum...
Although for some reason UNESCO has listed Tomyum Kung as intangible cultural heritage. ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tomyum...
I haven’t been paying attention to the I-5 Interstate Bridge project, which is more than just a bridge replacement with 5 miles of freeway expansion and rail. The biggest percentage increases are in non-construction (consultants) costs. Wow.
Video: Joe Cortright says massive new cost estimate means I-5 Bridge project is "dead"
$17.7 billion is an obscene figure.
bikeportland.org
January 10, 2026 at 8:45 PM
I haven’t been paying attention to the I-5 Interstate Bridge project, which is more than just a bridge replacement with 5 miles of freeway expansion and rail. The biggest percentage increases are in non-construction (consultants) costs. Wow.
Same with the political spam. This has discouraged me from donating to any candidate or cause. If orgs sell or share my information they should be fined >2x the original donation.
Got asked to donate to a Dem candidate last year. I said only if I won’t be spammed. They said yes, I’ll delete immediately so it doesn’t get passed along. I now get at least half a dozen spam texts a day. Not giving a penny until they make this stop and guarantee it won’t happen again.
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Same with the political spam. This has discouraged me from donating to any candidate or cause. If orgs sell or share my information they should be fined >2x the original donation.
Yesterday was a nice one on the waterfront.
January 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Yesterday was a nice one on the waterfront.
Reposted by Oran โอม
Reposted by Oran โอม
Everyone should be submitting this to Apple and Google.
January 7, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Everyone should be submitting this to Apple and Google.
Reposted by Oran โอม
I don't know who needs to hear this, but: you don't have to force yourself to watch, even if the video isn't explicit
you don't have to see someone die out of a sense of moral obligation
we, as a society, must respond to what happened but traumatizing yourself is not praxis
you don't have to see someone die out of a sense of moral obligation
we, as a society, must respond to what happened but traumatizing yourself is not praxis
if you do not want to watch the video, go to settings > content and media and uncheck the "autoplay videos and gifs" box right now
January 7, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I don't know who needs to hear this, but: you don't have to force yourself to watch, even if the video isn't explicit
you don't have to see someone die out of a sense of moral obligation
we, as a society, must respond to what happened but traumatizing yourself is not praxis
you don't have to see someone die out of a sense of moral obligation
we, as a society, must respond to what happened but traumatizing yourself is not praxis
Interesting that the Thai word for doctrine, ลัทธิ, meaning a set of beliefs, thoughts, and principles covers everything from philosophy, religion, economics, to politics. It was a bit funny to see things like Confucianism and capitalism lumped in with cults of personality and conspiracy theories.
หมวดหมู่:ลัทธิ - วิกิพีเดีย
th.wikipedia.org
January 6, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Interesting that the Thai word for doctrine, ลัทธิ, meaning a set of beliefs, thoughts, and principles covers everything from philosophy, religion, economics, to politics. It was a bit funny to see things like Confucianism and capitalism lumped in with cults of personality and conspiracy theories.
Reposted by Oran โอม
Californians: the state's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) website is now available for filing requests for data brokers to delete their info on you. Takes just a few minutes!
privacy.ca.gov/drop/
privacy.ca.gov/drop/
Delete request and opt-out platform (DROP)
Protect your personal information. Data brokers collect, share, and sell your personal information. You can stop that from happening.
privacy.ca.gov
January 6, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Californians: the state's Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP) website is now available for filing requests for data brokers to delete their info on you. Takes just a few minutes!
privacy.ca.gov/drop/
privacy.ca.gov/drop/
Reposted by Oran โอม
🚨 A bill has been pre-filed in #waleg that would require the state building code council to legalize scissor stairs for more residential buildings. 🚨
#HB2228 is sponsored by Reps. Zahn and Duerr.
More info: app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
#HB2228 is sponsored by Reps. Zahn and Duerr.
More info: app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
January 2, 2026 at 7:26 PM
🚨 A bill has been pre-filed in #waleg that would require the state building code council to legalize scissor stairs for more residential buildings. 🚨
#HB2228 is sponsored by Reps. Zahn and Duerr.
More info: app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
#HB2228 is sponsored by Reps. Zahn and Duerr.
More info: app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
Transit Speed & Reliability
Often when a job interviewer asks ”do you have reliable transportation?“ they imply “do you have a car?” Driving is assumed to be reliable by default.
Frequency (now a planning mantra) matters, but its effect and appeal is diminished by slow and unreliable service.
Often when a job interviewer asks ”do you have reliable transportation?“ they imply “do you have a car?” Driving is assumed to be reliable by default.
Frequency (now a planning mantra) matters, but its effect and appeal is diminished by slow and unreliable service.
If your service isn't reliably as fast or faster than driving, you're DOA in auto-dependent North America. There are exceptions to every rule, but transit planning would have had a far better last 30 years with that principle at its core.
The Finch LRT will hopefully force Toronto to reckon with two things: that street based transit will *almost* never compete with driving (especially in the burbs) and that people really care about speed. My new piece in the Toronto Star highlights that and makes the case for subways and railways.
January 2, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Transit Speed & Reliability
Often when a job interviewer asks ”do you have reliable transportation?“ they imply “do you have a car?” Driving is assumed to be reliable by default.
Frequency (now a planning mantra) matters, but its effect and appeal is diminished by slow and unreliable service.
Often when a job interviewer asks ”do you have reliable transportation?“ they imply “do you have a car?” Driving is assumed to be reliable by default.
Frequency (now a planning mantra) matters, but its effect and appeal is diminished by slow and unreliable service.
Reposted by Oran โอม
If your service isn't reliably as fast or faster than driving, you're DOA in auto-dependent North America. There are exceptions to every rule, but transit planning would have had a far better last 30 years with that principle at its core.
The Finch LRT will hopefully force Toronto to reckon with two things: that street based transit will *almost* never compete with driving (especially in the burbs) and that people really care about speed. My new piece in the Toronto Star highlights that and makes the case for subways and railways.
To fix transit in Toronto, we need to embrace a simple idea: subways subways subways.
Rob Ford's maligned motto contained a nugget of truth.
www.thestar.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:07 PM
If your service isn't reliably as fast or faster than driving, you're DOA in auto-dependent North America. There are exceptions to every rule, but transit planning would have had a far better last 30 years with that principle at its core.
Reposted by Oran โอม
If you don't try to draw a map of a bus network, decision-makers will never see how complicated it is.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
The NJ Transit bus route network is incredibly complicated, and some routes only run at certain times of day or certain times of the week. You could make a case (I might not agree with it) that it is actually impossible to make a useful NJ Transit bus route map.
January 2, 2026 at 3:58 PM
If you don't try to draw a map of a bus network, decision-makers will never see how complicated it is.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Our firm often draws an agency's first clear map. Its effect is sometimes to show that the service doesn't make sense, which starts the process of improving it.
Apps are helpful but maps matter.
Reposted by Oran โอม
It takes time and effort to change fire codes, but if Team @wilsonkatieb.bsky.social pushes, Seattle could revert to the stock NFPA 130 requirements before final design is complete on West Seattle and Ballard Link, saving a bunch of money.
Seattle Fire Code has its own provisions for fixed guideway transit which are more restrictive than NFPA 130
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
For example, it doesn't allow escalators & elevators to count toward egress capacity under any circumstance, and enclosed emergency exists must provide at least 50% of egress capacity
January 2, 2026 at 1:01 AM
It takes time and effort to change fire codes, but if Team @wilsonkatieb.bsky.social pushes, Seattle could revert to the stock NFPA 130 requirements before final design is complete on West Seattle and Ballard Link, saving a bunch of money.
Reposted by Oran โอม
Space Needle Puts On Stunning New Year’s Northern Lights Show: tinyurl.com/a4tvt2ev
January 1, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Space Needle Puts On Stunning New Year’s Northern Lights Show: tinyurl.com/a4tvt2ev
Surprise bunny visitor for a late night snack on New Year’s Eve.
January 1, 2026 at 5:50 AM
Surprise bunny visitor for a late night snack on New Year’s Eve.
Ironic how hostile architecture against people but not for motor vehicles is so widespread in this country.
Americans will do everything—including calling out the National Guard—before they will install well-maintained, crash-rated bollards.
National Guard arrives in New Orleans for 1st New Year's since Bourbon Street attack
Nearly a year after a New Year's Day truck attack on Bourbon Street left 14 dead, New Orleans officials are still seeking permanent security solutions.
www.npr.org
January 1, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Ironic how hostile architecture against people but not for motor vehicles is so widespread in this country.
What options are there for renting a mini/van/truck for moving lots of stuff in Seattle, other than Zipcar?
January 1, 2026 at 3:27 AM
What options are there for renting a mini/van/truck for moving lots of stuff in Seattle, other than Zipcar?
Reposted by Oran โอม
Last light of 2025 over Seattle
January 1, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Last light of 2025 over Seattle
Reposted by Oran โอม
Happy new year
あけましておめでとうございますっ
縁起物なので自転車でそっち行きますねっ
2026年もよろしくお願い奉りますっ
みなさん大好きですっ
あけましておめでとうございますっ
縁起物なので自転車でそっち行きますねっ
2026年もよろしくお願い奉りますっ
みなさん大好きですっ
December 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Happy new year
あけましておめでとうございますっ
縁起物なので自転車でそっち行きますねっ
2026年もよろしくお願い奉りますっ
みなさん大好きですっ
あけましておめでとうございますっ
縁起物なので自転車でそっち行きますねっ
2026年もよろしくお願い奉りますっ
みなさん大好きですっ