iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 29/03/2026

🥗 Action shot from my Ted Talk yesterday!

White, middle-aged man wearing khakis, a blue button-down dress shirt, and a grey HadesTown beanie stands on the black TedX BostonCollege stage. He is raising his right hand to indicate the very larger number of of Americans in food insecure gouseholds in 2024 (it’s 47.9 million)

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 13/01/2026

🥗 This is the part that is glossed over so often, eg those WaPo op-eds from a few weeks ago: "prices for unavoidable expenses have risen about 35 percent faster than the CPI, leaving many housenolds to struggle ever harder, year after year, to make ends meet." Gene Ludwig, Mismeasurement of America

[By aggregating price changes of roughly eighty thousand goods and services rather than focusing on necessary items that eat up the wages of low- and moderate-income] households- food, housing. and health care, for examples— the CPI distracts from the reality that median earnings have declined vis-à-vis ordinary expenses. In fact, prices for unavoidable expenses have risen about 35 percent faster than the CPI, leaving many households to struggle ever harder, year after year, to make ends meet."

061

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 17/12/2025

I finished my 6-week course of chemotherapy and radiation yesterday, and rang the bell! Now I have a month off from treatment and then find out what the next phase will look like. The future is full of unknowns (haha more than usual that is), but it felt real good to finish this first phase.

Middle-aged white man wearing red knit cap, blue jacket, Washington Spirit scarf, blue pants, and sneakers stands in front of a wall with large white lettering saying "RING IN HOPE". He is holding the mask he wore for 42 radiation treatments over 6 weeks for the first phase of cancer treatment at Inova Fairfax.

Middle-aged white man wearing red knit cap, blue jacket, Washington Spirit scarf, and blue pants stands in front of a wall with large white lettering saying "RING IN HOPE". He is holding the mask he wore for 42 radiation treatments over 6 weeks for the first phase of cancer treatment at Inova Fairfax. He is also holding a teddy bear his daughter gave him. Not visible in the photo: The bear's paw says "Nobody is Perfect".

4260

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 24/11/2025

Here is my contribution: I'm thankful for ClinicalTrials.gov data bc I have incurable brain cancer, but new research might change that. These data include what trials are happening, where, what phase they're in, and what could qualify me for participation. This could literally be life or death.”

Text pasted from image on LinkedIn:

Randy Rosso
MPP, Food Data Nerd
I'm thankful for ClinicalTrials.gov data because I have incurable brain cancer, but new research might change that.
These data include what trials are happening, where, what phase they're in, and what could qualify me for participation.
This could literally be life or death.
Daniel Schuman
Executive Director, American Governance Institute and co-founder of the Congressional Data Coalition
I'm thankful for the data behind Congress.gov because it lets anyone — advocates, reporters, researchers, and everyday citizens - track Congressional bill text, amendments, votes, and committee actions in real time so they can make their voices heard on policies they care about.

062

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 24/11/2025

Y'all. YOU ALL! My friends Corey and Tomas from the pick-up soccer group I've played with on the mall since 1996 (!!) stopped by Saturday before the NWSL Championship match to give me a very special Spirit jersey that they all signed with well wishes! My heart is full!

Selfie of me in the woods, wearing a Spirit knit cap and a Washington Spirit jersey my pick-up soccer friends signed with well wishes and delivered to me Saturday. One of them reads "Always you will be in our team! Tomas Lozoya" Others:
"You got this! Big hugs! Corey"
"Rooting for you. John"
"Hang in there!" Tessa
"Go RANDY" Ben
"Forza, Randy! A Taaylor"

2373

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 24/11/2025

🥗 Bern E. Bear and I stand in solidarity with Starbucks baristas and other workers during the strike. We will NOT cross that picket line! #solidarity!

Selfie of 50-something white male wearing glasses, with shaved head, holding a small light brown teddy bear. Some books and art can be seen in the background.

Selfie of 50-something white male wearing glasses, with shaved head, sitting on stairs. I am wearing a white Washington Spirit hoodie with a Nike swoosh on it.

070

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 15/11/2025

Food data nerd signed the Spirit ball!

Marker writing on large Washington Spirit soccer ball at Audi Field. My contribution:
Go SPIRIT!
Food Data Nerd
Randy R

020

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 05/11/2025

Is cancer going to stop me? Ask the turtle: Turtle: “Nope!”

Selfie of me wearing a light green t-shirt featuring a determined looking turtle, with a bubble quote saying “Nope!” I am also wearing an aqua/yellow Washington Spirit jacket and glasses.

4120

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 24/10/2025

Evetyone is hurting, knows someone who is or helping someone who is. It doesn’t have to be like this. Well-timed cover story in Arlington Magazine. Could be written about most/all places in America.

Cover of Arlington Magazine 11/12/2025:

GUIDE TO GIVING 2025
TOP
THE BEST BURGERS
ATTORNEYS
IN TOWN
Arlington
Helpers
*Hurting
Arlin
Arlington's safety-net
nonprofits are under duress.
Need is on the rise. Now what?
الرراداررا
المالوالlp
18L900
6000đ
TTay
S LS
IST SOUD
MAINIM
L202/T/5
FALLS CHURCH • MCLEAN

020

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 18/10/2025

Uh FotMob what? You ok? This is NOT the Washington Spirit starting lineup.

Screenshot of CotMob starting lineup listing for washing ton Spirit.

11:59
12:30 PM
93)
12:30 PM
Preview
Season stats
Commentary
Age
Lineup
Country
Table
H2H
Washington Spirit 3-4-2-1
4 - 0
28 Maciver
24 Morgan
C 9 McKeown
4 Bernal
14 Carle
10 Santos
17 Hershfelt
19 Kouassi
2 Rodman
7 Bethune
21 Monday

120

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 04/10/2025

Goung to do my best to handle this fight ahead of me with aplomb

Japanese plum tree (Prunus salicina) has a reputation for producing stunning blooms and tasty fruit, and it's a cherished symbol of vitality and renewal in many cultures. Originating in China but popularized by Japan, the Japanese plum is now a global favorite to plant in orchards and gardens.

270

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 04/10/2025

Washinvton Spurit tu kets!

For sale: 2 club level tix (C7) to Washington Spirit game
10/18 @ 12:30pm
@ Audi Field includes unlimited delicious food and drink in the clubhouse!
$100 each OBO

140

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 31/08/2025

We’re in the house for Washington Spirit Pride Match 2025!! #riseupdc #thatsthespirit

Photo of Audi Field under a partly cloudy sky, a few minutes before the NWSL match between Washington Spirit and Chicago RED Stars

030

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 30/08/2025

They just sell these at the store, to anybody?! No gender inflation is out of control!

Photo of a sports pump, here called “INFLATION KIT”

150

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 11/08/2025

PURE FUEL (aka maple syrup) I have questions. How is this fuel? For what, a hummingbird? “Waffle ready”—is there maple syrup that is NOT waffle ready? What happens then?

ENDURING ENERGY!
EASY ON TUMMY!
Anderson's PURE MAPLE SYRUP
SINCE 1926
ALL NATURAL & ORGANIC
PURE FUEL
PURE MAPLE SYRUP
TASTES GREAT
WAFFLE READY!
Antioxidants
MANGANESE
RIBOFLAVIN
POTASSIUM
Electralyies

440

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 07/08/2025

From the Afterword (don’t think this spoils anything), regarding fantasy books revolving around war: They “divide the world into Me or Us (good) and Them or It (bad) and reduce the ethical complexity and moral richness of our life to Yes/No, On/Off. This is puerile, misleading, and degrading.”

From the Afterword of Ursula K LeGuin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, regarding fantasy books revolving around war:

“…reducing the choices of action to "a war against" whatever-it-is, you divide the world into Me or Us (good) and Them or It (bad) and reduce the ethical complexity and moral richness of our life to Yes/No, On/Off. This is puerile, misleading, and degrading. In stories, it evades any solution but violence and offers the reader mere infantile reassurance. All too often the heroes of such fantasies behave exactly as the villains do, acting with mindless violence, but the hero is on the "right" side and therefore will win. Right makes might.
Or does might make right?
If war is the only game going, yes. Might makes right. Which is why I don't play war games.”

150

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 01/08/2025

Active view of my work environment. Maybe this means it’s the weekend.

230

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 01/08/2025

I feel lousy, and my brain is soup.

Photo of a sticker with a color drawing of a fawn, brown with white spots, standing in a patch of greenery. The caption reads:
"I'm tired and my brain is soup."

090

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 30/07/2025

“This Is A Little Tune That I Call DEATH TO FASCISM”

Poster seen in a store in Los Angeles, featuring a small photo of PIETRO DEIRO playing the accordion. Text says that he “played the "Excelsior" Piano-Accordion for over 12 years”
Below the photo is text reading:
“THIS IS A LITTLE TUNE THAT I CALL DEATH TO FASCISM”
Image by David Fullerion, 2025

060

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 29/07/2025

I love comics. Especially Marvel/X-Men/Avengers. Some excerpts from the first story in Marvel United #1: A Pride Special (Marvel Voices One Shot). “We’ve been here the whole time.”

Cover photo. Captain America and other Avengers look at the camera. Title:

MARVEL UNITED #1
A PRIDE SPECIAL
MARVEL
VOICES
ONE-SHOT

Photo of page 1
Text:
THIS IS ONLY ART. THESE ARE ONLY WORDS.
BUT WORDS AND ART MAKE DREAMS AND DREAMS ARE BINDING.
THOSE WHO HATE US LIVE IN CAGES OF BURNING WIRE THEY BUILT FOR THEMSELVES.
A PRISON IN EVERY HEAD, A JAILER IN EVERY HEART.
THEY LIE WITH THEIR EVERY DYING BREATH--BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TRUE.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.
WE KNOW WHO WE ARE...
… AND WHO WE ARE BELONGS TO US.

CAPTAIN AMERICA OF THE RAILWAYS, ESCAPADE & HEROES OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE IN
"WHO WE ARE"
BY AL EWING, KEI ZAMA & BRITTANY PEER & IRMA KNIIVILA

PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU. TRUE FRIENDS--TRUE FAMILY.
EVEN THE FAMILY YOU
DON'T KNOW.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FAMILY, AND WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME.
EVEN THOSE WHO CAN'T SAY IT YET, EVEN TO THEMSELVES...WE LOVE THEM TOO. WE FIGHT FOR THEM. WE STAND TOGETHER.

YEAH! YOU COME FOR ONE, YOU COME FOR US ALL! TRANS RIGHTS--YOUR RIGHTS, ESCAPADE--ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!

THERE'S THAT,
I GUESS. TAKING THAT STEP INTO THE LIGHT...
THAT'S ALWAYS WORTH IT.
EVEN IF IT'S ONLY IN YOUR OWN HEART, IT'S WORTH IT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR EVERYONE MAKING THE JOURNEY NOW. BECAUSE SOMEONE ALWAYS WILL--ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
LIKE THE
STORYTELLER SAID...
...WE'VE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME.

041

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 29/07/2025

ADHD is planning to read all of these books next (having finished The Guarantee by @nataliefoster.bsky.social) and then playing solitaire on my phone when I’m paralyzed with indecision. @scottsantens.com

Photo of a stack of books:

Let There Be Money:
Understanding Modern Monetary
Theory and Basic Income
by Scott Santens

The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker
by Steven Greenhouse

The Shame Game
by Mary O'Hara

Breadline USA
by Sasha Abramsky

Emergent Strategy
by adrienne maree brown

The Vanishing American Dream
by Gene Ludwig

5394

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 29/07/2025

🥗 This is smart. Democrats: From Programs to Policy – a New Vision for Families thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Excerpt from essay by Joe Waters, CEO of Capita:
“For example, if we had robust paid parental leave—a true essential for the health of parents and the development of babies in the first weeks and months of life—we would likely see fewer infants in child care, easing the supply crunch and improving conditions for older children and workers alike.”

071

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 28/07/2025

My daughter’s friend is vacationing in Banff with her family, prompting me to dig up this photo from the week I spent there 25 years ago. It just keeps escalating!

ATTENTION BANFF MT. NORQUAY IS CLOSED NO TRESPASSING
Banff Mt. Norquay is not responsible for injuries or loss sustained by trespassing hikers, mountaineers, or sightseers:
RESCUE IS NOT
IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE
Contact Banff Wardens 762-4506 (24 hrs.)
ACCESS GATES
may be
CLOSED & LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING
UNEXPLODED BOMBS
used for avalanche control may be detonated without warning

040

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 28/07/2025

Brazil lifted 40 million people out of food insecurity in just two years. It can be done in America too: we just need leaders willing to do the work.

A major achievement: Brazil is off the Hunger Map

The FAO's latest report confirms that Brazil is officially off the UN Hunger Map.
This historic achievement was driven by political choices that put family farmers and food access first! In just 2 years, Brazil has lifted over 40 million people out of food insecurity through:
• Expansion of cash transfers to the most vulnerable families
• A universal school feeding program, expanded to other public institutions
• An increase in minimum wage
• Public procurement from family farmers
• Targeted support for Black and Indigenous communities to have access to public food purchases
• Granting every Brazilian the human right to adequate food in national law
• A robust Feeding Cities program
• Unprecedented cross-government coordination
Brazil's blueprint offers proof that a future free from hunger is not only possible, but within reach!

062

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 21/07/2025

🥗 Interesting find at a thrift shop supporting a basic needs/housing nonprofit.

Cover of a CD: “Groundwork: act to reduce hunger” shows a woman working a farm, leading cows on a field.

040

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 20/07/2025

I have questions. And “Skin Laundry” is now in my top 5 least favorite phrases.

Picture of an establishment sign reading “SKIN LAUNDRY”

041

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 11/07/2025

🥗 Behold -- my new logo!! Designed by the very capable Annemarie Schoen.

170

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 03/07/2025

I was up most of the night doing some urgent, last-minute data analysis for FRAC that they asked for yesterday. I'm not complaining! Things are moving fast, I understand, and I'm willing to do anything to stop this hideous legislation. But now I'm tired, and my brain is soup.

Sticker on my laptop with a picture of a fawn against a backdrop of bushes, with text reading “I’m tired and my brain is soup”.

2190

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 27/06/2025

Hmm, should I respond to this loser or block him? (Mostly rhetorical question)

Screenshot of replies on LinkedIn from a xenophobic jerk:
“
Randy Rosso fir SNAP that's fair.
Medicaid is federal. Do you have a better way to eliminate illegal people in this country from taking advantage of the ...more
Like Reply

Randy Rosso if you are in this country without declaring your intent to be here to our designated abd property authorities, you are in ...more
Like
Reply

340

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 25/06/2025

Carrot weather app with sound financial (and entertainment) advice.

Screenshot of Carrot weather app:
“86°
Feels 92°
You can save money on 2+ tickets to F1® The Movie by not buying tickets to the movie.”

180

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 23/06/2025

This isn't great: "Due to current HHS restructuring, the information provided on aspe.hhs.gov is not being updated currently. Please refer to hhs.gov for more information."

Screenshot of the US HHS/ASPE web page on Poverty Guidelines. Red banner at the top of the page has white text reading:
"Due to current HHS restructuring, the information provided on aspe.hhs.gov is not being updated currently. Please refer to hhs.gov for more information."

010

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 22/06/2025

🥗 The asset limit cut this older man’s food benefits in his final years of life because he’d bought a burial plot so he could be buried near his ancestors. End asset limits for SNAP and all other programs that use them to deny benefits.

wants to make this move, they lose their benefits. Or take the cruel case of the family whose uncle had saved up for decades for the end-of-life send-off he wanted: a plot in the family cemetery. The amount he had paid for his burial plot exceeded the $2,000 threshold for assets allowable by the food assistance program. His food stamps were cut in the last years of his life.

191

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 20/06/2025

4) The section describing the permitted uses of the data I incredibly vague: "deemed by USDA to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which USDA collected the records." This could mean anything.

(L) To the Department of Justice or in a proceeding before a court or adjudicative body
when: (a) USDA/FNS or any component thereof; or (b) any employee of USDA in his or her official capacity, or any employee of the agency in his or her individual capacity where the
Department of Justice has agreed to represent the employee; or (c) the United States Government, is a party to litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and USDA determines that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation and the use of such records by
the Department of Justice is deemed by USDA to be for a purpose that is compatible with the purpose for which USDA collected the records.

120

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 17/06/2025

I voted in the Arlington VA Democratic primary. Arlington peeps: have you voted?

Selfie. Medium build white male with tinted glasses and dark curly hair, wearing a Washington Spirit jersey (Bethune!) and now sporting a blue “I voted in Arlington” sticker featuring a wavy US flag.

090

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 17/06/2025

How is Kristi Noem even a real person?

Andy Borowitz
2d
•••
I swear I am not making this up. A few plastic surgeries ago, when Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota, THIS was the anti-drug slogan she approved for her state.
METH.
WE'RE ON IT.

67918

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 13/06/2025

Check out Rhode Island's SNAP vehicle asset policy circa 2010 (from Mathematica's MATH SIPP microsimulation technical working paper--citation in next post). All of this, just for the VEHICLES part of the policy! Then there's bank accounts, burial plots, retirement accounts, CDs...

Rhode Island: Exclude one vehicle per adult, but a maximum of two vehicles can be excluded. Set the asset value of the next set of vehicles to its FMV less $4,650, where the number of vehicles valued in this manner is at most the number of drivers less the number of vehicles excluded in the previous step. Set the asset value of the remaining vehicles to the greater of the vehicle's equity or the vehicle's FMV less $4,650.

110

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 07/06/2025

🥗 This is how you frame the Trump-Musk feud and pivot to what really matters.

Text from screenshot of Facebook post:
Robert Reich
2h •
Well there you go...

Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders
Trump's right: The easiest way to save money is to eliminate the "Billions and Billions" in corporate welfare Elon Musk has received.
Musk's right: Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" is a "disgusting abomination" that must be defeated.
Let's do both. It'll be a win-win for America!

07115

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 29/05/2025

Ok explain this one to me: "Be an early applicant!" "No longer accepting applications!" 17 people clicked "apply"...

LinkedIn job listing fragment, with a purple arrow pointing to green text saying "Be an early applicant" and a purple oval highlighting red text saying "No longer accepting applications".

040

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 21/05/2025

🥗 Medicaid and work requirements: “a Kafkaesque nightmare designed by lunatics and run by clowns”

Jennifer Pahlka • 1d
Work requirements are welfare for Deloitte.

If you've ever looked at the American healthcare system and thought "it should be more of a Kafkaesque nightmare designed by lunatics and run by clowns," then work requirements are the policy for you. Georgia tried them and spent five times as much setting up the verification system as they did on health care in the first year.
Jeff Maurer

0106

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 14/05/2025

🥗 Ah there it is -- states with error rates >= 6% would have to pay 15% of SNAP benefits. States with error rates over 10% would have to pay 25%.

Excerpt from House Agriculture Commmittee memo, "HOLDING STATES ACCOUNTABLE: INCENTIVIZING A MORE EFFICIENT & EFFECTIVE SNAP PROGRAM":
"As recommended by several outside groups and in President Trump’s FY18 budget request, the Committee’s reconciliation text implements a base five percent State benefit cost share in the SNAP program to begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 for all States. States with payment error rates of six percent or higher will have to contribute more. For States with error rates equal to or great than six percent but less than eight percent, the share will be 15 percent. For States with error rates equal to or greater than eight percent but less than 10 percent, the share will be 20 percent. And for States with error rates equal to or greater than 10 percent, the share will be 25 percent. The error rate that will determine the State’s share of the SNAP benefit in FY2028 will be the FY26 error rate, which will be published by USDA in June of 2027. Every single State has achieved an error rate below 6% in the last 10 years; federal policy should incentivize them to return to this behavior.

100

Randy Rosso @fooddatanerd.com · 14/05/2025

🥗 Ah there it is -- states with error rates >= 6% would have to pay 15% of SNAP benefits. States with error rates over 10% would have to pay 25%.

000