iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Our local stratovolcano looks better with more snow. PNW rainy season: It's time to do your thing!

Looking down on Mt Rainier from a passing airplane.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

And tonight's alpenglow as seen from UW's Seattle campus.

Orangey alpenglow looking toward Mt Rainier with evergreen and other trees framing the shot.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

After Digital Day, I zoomed back up to UW's campus (via monorail and Link) to help run a really wonderful webinar on election rumors featuring King County Elections Director Julie Wise and Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton. I'm looking forward to sharing the webinar video in a few days!

The interior of a Seattle Center monorail train with downtown buildings framing the view.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The workshop session I ran, "Authenticity Gaps, Parasocial Media and Institutional Communications," featured my @cip.uw.edu colleague @danielletomson.bsky.social and had an overflow crowd.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Despite what the sign says, please ask before touching me.

Michael Grass standing in front of a wall that reads "Touch Grass."

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Our local stratovolcano seems to have seen a good amount of new snow. #Tacoma #Tahoma #MtRainier

Mount Rainier peeks above homes in Tacoma, covered in snow.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Does anyone's cat like to ride the bus? We're headed to the vet for a routine check-up, but my sweet, well-mannered tabby seems to enjoy the ride and the adventure of the Route 1 bus in Tacoma.

A cat in a cat carrier looks out into the interior of a bus.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It's a pleasant Saturday in Tacoma. 71° F / 22° C #PublicTransit #Tacoma

A bald dude in sunglasses takes a selfie with a T Line train in Tacoma.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Good evening, Tacoma. The mountain is out!

A snow-capped Mt Rainier stands out amid the Downtown Tacoma skyline with the Old City Hall clocktower at left.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

The mountain may not be out tonight in Tacoma but what about this rainbow? 🌈

An arcing rainbow over a cityscape with telephone wires.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Although I have a three-train commute from home to my office in Seattle, I get so much reading and writing done en route. I couldn't do that driving on I-5.

Bald guy in sunglasses wearing a purple polo shirt.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Here's a good example of that from this morning in Tacoma's Hilltop, where local motorists use a lot of creativity and dumb luck to squeeze into daylighted parking spaces adjacent to the J Street Greenway.

Two cars inproperly parked in areas that were daylighted to improve visibility at intersections.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The mountain is not out here in Tacoma this evening as wildfire smoke from the Inland Northwest starts to accumulate in the Puget Sound lowlands. 73°F / 24°C #WAwx #PNW

A hazy sky with homes in the foreground.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Superman has been on duty in Downtown Tacoma at Commerce Street & S. 9th Street.

A man in a Superman costume waiting at a crosswalk.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Paper birch trees across Western Washington have been facing major threats from bronze birch borers in recent years. This paper birch in Tacoma's Wright Park, one of many birches planted in the arboretum in 1895, was taken down last week. Other birches in the park look to be in bad shape.

The remains of a Paper Birch tree chopped down in a park with dried-out grass.

A tree marker for a Paper Birch tree that was chopped down.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Coming soon to an Amtrak Cascades station near you!

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Last week, I started Thursday bright and early to catch a new @amtrakcascades.wsdot.wa.gov Siemens Air trainset pass through Tacoma Dome Station during a test run from Seattle to Eugene. I'm looking forward to riding these new trainsets! #newtrain #AmtrakCascades #Tacoma

A shiny new Amtrak Cascades Siemens Airo trainset pulls up to a station platform.

An Amtrak train crew tests a wheelchair ramp at a traincar doorway.

A doorway to an Amtrak Cascades Business Class car.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

For World Cup fans in Tacoma looking for intel about how crowded Doyle's is before the 12 noon (Pacific) start of the final, it's mostly empty (around 8 a.m.), but there are a few folks here who are already stationed for the match. Doyle's breakfast, per usual, is delicious.

A mostly empty pub with soccer scarves hanging from the rafters.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Tacoma Porchfest is great! The streets aren't closed; they're open to people to enjoy.

A group of people, including two on bicycles, gather in front of a Craftsman-style house where a three-piece band is assembled.

A large group of people walk along a closed-off neighborhood street.

A large group of people, including a brass band and fire-breathing mechanical dragon gather in front of a wrestling ring on a residential street.

An amateur wrestler jumps down from the ropes.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I helped organize "Elections Explained: Rumors and Reality," a great conversation that our @cip.uw.edu team co-hosted tonight with King County Elections and the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County and featuring King County Elections Director Julie Wise and @katestarbird.bsky.social [1/2]

Julie Wise and Kate Starbird for a conversation with a camera in the foreground at right and a slide reading "Elections Explained: Rumors and Reality."!

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I couldn't find primary source material, but according to a Google AI Overview, the "well-know political blogger is noted for popularizing a specific, simple, and crowd-pleasing tomato-basil bruschetta." Yeah, I don't think that's a reliable answer ... [2/3]

An Google AI Overview claiming that Matt Yglesias is "noted for popularizing a specific, simple, a crowd-pleasing tomato-basil bruschetta."

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I normally don't work from Seattle on Mondays, but the Sounder train from Tacoma Dome isn't nearly as crowded as it is midweek.

A Sounder commuter train at the Tacoma Dome Station platform with a canopy shading half of the platform looking toward the sun.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

What a nice afternoon for Tacoma Pride in Wright Park, which compared to Pride in other cities (e.g., Seattle), has shady spots to escape the sun and watch Pride-goers promenade.

Bald guy in a grey T-shirt with a bear-octopus creature.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Folks headed to the U District from Downtown Seattle navigating the Link service suspension: There's plenty of room on the G Line bus! Get out at 22nd Ave and walk one block to 23rd Ave to catch the 48 bus north!

A RapidRide G bus pulls up to a station in Downtown Seattle.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

In Tacoma's Hilltop, the Three Hearts bakery on MLK Jr Way hosted a cookie-design competition where students at Franklin Elementary School proposed cookie ideas and two student ideas were brought to life by their talented bakers. Here's one of the winners: The Coco Mello, currently available.

A cookie with a marshmallow fluf swirl on a plate.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

My all-transit commute to my office in Seattle from Tacoma is about 90 minutes each way, but I don't mind it since I can get a ton done en route on the train. Sure beats dealing with crazy motorist behavior on Interstate 5!

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

A cute cat timeline refresh for those who need it.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

This is my favorite lapswim pool in Chicago. I luckily had this architecturally stunning pool, a spot where Olympian and Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller swam once upon a time, all to myself this afternoon. (Reminder to self: I should go on vacation more often.)

A bald dude in a lapswim lane in a Mediterranean-Art Deco swimming pool.

An interior shot of a Mediterranean Revival/Art Deco swimming pool.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I'm visiting my hometown, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and stumbled upon the Pride version of Bellingham's municipal flag. The common bond between West Michigan and Whatcom County? The legacy of Dutch Calvinism. But I doubt that explains how Bellingham's flag ended up here on Wealthy Street in SE GR.

A rainbow colored version of the City of Bellingham's municipal flag hanging next to a storefront.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I realized that I moved from the Other Washington (D.C.) to Washington (state) 10 years ago this week! Caveats: I spent 2 years before that making regular visits to Seattle before relocating full time and then about 3 years of periodically supercommuting from Ballard to D.C.

A bald dude in a vintage Honolulu bus operator shirt ...

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

I thought I read somewhere on Bluesky a few months ago that the USPS SoDo garage entrance warning sign/alarm was always on. Waiting for a 50 bus to West Seattle this fine Saturday, I can confirm that it's still broken, very loud and annoying! #Seattle

A light rail train in the background in front of a garage entrance with sign saying "Caution Vehicle Exiting"

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Last year, I traveled to Gig Harbor via transit to speak at an event. Here I am again on Pierce Transit's Route 100 bus headed across Tacoma Narrows. It's not the fastest way to Gig Harbor, but it sure beats driving and dealing with Gig Harbor's surprisingly awful traffic. #Tacoma

Crossing the Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge on a bus.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Seattle may have its Belltown Hellcat, but did you know that in Tacoma, there's the Prius Hellkitty?

A blue Prius with a decal reading "Hellkitty"

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I dressed up for an especially transitful day in Seattle.

A bald guy wearing sunglasses and a Sound Transit Crosslake Connection soccer jersey.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

On Sundays, I am simply a pedestal for birdwatching.

An orange tabby cat lies in repose looking out a window.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

While very few people would read it, I could write a great guidebook for transit-oriented lapswimming in D.C., L.A., Long Beach, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle and Tacoma.

Bald dude wearing sunglasses and riding a streetcar.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

A T Line train makes its way through the snow and slush by the Old City Hall Station on Commerce Street in Tacoma. #Tacoma #PublicTransit

A T Line streetcar in front of the orange-brick Renaissance Revival style Old City Hall (and clocktower) along a snowy street in Tacoma.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Scenes this morning from a snow-covered Wright Park in Tacoma. #WAwx #Tacoma

Snowfall on the ground with a metal fence and hedge in the foreground.

Snowy conditions in a park looking toward a footbridge over a pond.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

We're getting some lowland snow in Tacoma before sunrise. #WAwx #Tacoma

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

With these 2-car 2 Line Link trains in Seattle, I'm having weird flashbacks to chasing short G trains on subway platforms in Brooklyn before they departed the station.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

My favorite part of #Caturday is a ritual of hiding post-lunch dental treats around the house that my cat hunts down one by one. Then the cat demands I create a comfy pedestal on the couch for sentinel duty to protect our domicile from pigeons outside the window. Then we both nap.

An orange tabby cat sitting on a human's legs.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Today in stratovolcanoes, Wy'east (Mt Hood), on the way north from LAX to SEA.

Looking down on a snow-capped Mt Hood from an airplane.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

You could easily retrofit 1st Street with a nice landscaped median and keep parking on both sides of the street! Instead, Bluff Heights has this historic expanse of broken asphalt.

A super wide residential street with palm trees.

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Michael Grass @mgrass.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I was nearly killed a few years back by a speeding motorist while I was crossing the incredibly wide (non-arterial) 1st Street in the Bluff Heights area of #LongBeach, California. It looks like dead palm fronds have been added as a lane divider here at 1st St & Coronado Ave.

An insanely wide residential street with dead palm fronds used as a lane divider.

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