things that are no more

i was trying to dig up an old post about my internet setup from when we first moved into the RV. I was using a “lollipop,” as part of a project I had worked on. Apparently the website for the project is now defunct, as tends to happen with projects that don’t go anywhere. I did find my original post about the technical aspects of my setup (where I also apparently learned Hugo once already, but I clearly forgot everything since it felt like new when I did it again most recently; but that’s okay because I moved GFRV over to WordPress ages ago)… not the post I’m looking for, but that’s okay. I haven’t used the Lollipop for over a year now anyway.

I also found where I posted here about Ginger’s passing. I understated my grief back then. Her death was heartbreaking. I miss her every day. She was the best kitty BFF a person could ask for. She was perfect in every way.

what to do now?

do i blog again? do i give up on any kind of public voice? i honestly have no idea. maybe let’s try again.

i’ve been seeing people touting the miracle that is oat milk, framed as an alternative to almond milk, which is currently being demonized for the perceived amount of resources required. however, almonds are still better than animal-based dairy, and subsidies are never factored into these calculations. Not only that, but almonds themselves grow on trees that don’t need replanting year after year, which is better for the air quality for local workers and residents, compared to fields replanted each season (and that’s not even addressing the less ethical practices of field burning as a means of turning it over for a new crop).

anyway… i wish that the oat bandwagon wasn’t shitting on people with celiac and wheat allergy. seems like the vast majority of gluten-free fad dieters are totes cool with oating the hell out of their lives, and since companies only care about selling product, they sure as shit don’t care about oat contamination for the small minority of the GF market who has to be GF for medical reasons.

yet another way the world isn’t made for people like me.

an update

It’s been awhile. I’ve given up on finding a job in tech. I am old, fat, disabled, and I don’t look good on tech companies’ websites. I’m okay with it.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with this blog… I don’t really have time or energy for blogging for fun, but I sometimes think about it.

Here is a bullet list:

  • Still working at same job, doing taxes. Still enjoying it. Can’t imagine that changing any time soon. I’m an IRS Annual Filing Season Program participant, and I’m working towards becoming an Enrolled Agent.
  • Still disabled and chronically ill. Worse in some ways, better in others. This and work are why I don’t really have time or energy for blogging.
  • I got an electric trike, so when I want to step away from the computer, I can tool around on that.
  • I sometimes blog at Gluten-Free RV to give updates to friends and family, although not as often as I’d like.
  • 2020 was an awful year, but I’m cautiously optimistic that I’ll survive it.
  • I taught myself Hugo to make a couple tiny websites for fun, but this particular tiny website is still running WordPress

what it’s like looking for tech jobs when you’re someone like me

almost every tech job posting ever:

“we’re committed to diversity in tech….

….we’re looking for someone with 5+ years of experience….

….in very specific technologies….

….which have historically been extremely exclusive and prejudiced….

…and consequently only cis white males have experience in these technologies….

….so we’re going to hire an experienced tech bro, because business needs are business needs.”

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

new link blog format/location

a note for the four or five (or maybe zero or one) people who read this blog..

since i’m mostly posting links lately, and i’d really like to be able to tag and retrieve links at a later date, i decided to do a little upgrading:

i’ve installed Shaarli, a single-user bookmark organizing app, on my site here as my new Link Blog.

it has things like…

I tweaked the color scheme and added a few things to the layout (mostly to fix some editing and to add a link back to my main site), and maybe i’ll even submit a pull request when i clean up the code.

on a personal note (and I’m writing this here because the blog link is officially removed from my portfolio, even if it still exists for those who go looking for it), i’ve given up on tech work for now and maybe forever. i have a part-time job that’s going well, although it’s not very technical (though I did get to teach myself how to script in windows powershell in order to Get Some Shit Done, because i didn’t want to do it the old fashioned way). these people appreciate the work i do, they’re flexible when i need flexibility, and this seems to be turning into a long-term opportunity. it would be nice to have benefits and a steady paycheck, but in this gig economy, i’m just grateful i have a permanent, if irregular, job.

i’ll use this site/host for play for now (Shaarli was a good experiment tbh), and i’ll probably update the portfolio/resume/cv at some point in the near future… and it sure would be nice to get some fun wordpress gigs someday, but for right now?

for right now i’m going to focus less on trying to get into an industry that doesn’t want me, and focus a lot more on survival and self-care.

Link Blog: June 25, 2019

Ghost networks of psychiatrists make money for insurance companies but hinder patients’ access to care: “Ghost networks” are insurers’ in-network provider directories that are full of outdated or incorrect information, and providers who no longer accept the insurance in question. A study of BCBS mental healthcare providers found that 75% of the listed providers were unreachable or unavailable. For pediatric psychiatrists, that number was 83%.

Ruth and Queer Family of Choice: this interpretation of the Book of Ruth is a beautiful explanation of the importance of family.

Gluten-Free Travel: how to survive on the road when you have celiac or food allergies, and can’t eat at restaurants. (Full disclosure: I wrote this post for my side project, GlutenFreeRV.)

Link Blog: June 17, 2019

Blackfeet Researcher Leads Her Tribe Back to Traditional Foods: going back to traditional foods like berries and lean meats in the hopes of improving health outcomes and preserving cultural heritage.

Oklahoma base set for migrant site was WWII internment camp: Children crossing the border into the US without parents have been imprisoned at an army base since 2014. This particular base was previously an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, a “boarding school” for Native American children taken from their parents, and a camp for Apache prisoners of war.

You probably don’t need ReCAPTCHA: A list of many thoughtful reasons ranging from privacy to accessibility to encourage you to quit using this sketchy Google service.

Link Blog: June 9, 2019

Transgender adults are more likely to have lower health-quality of life compared to their cis counterparts, according to a recent JAMA article.

An Unprecedented Look at Spaceflight’s Effects on the Human Body: NASA studied the effects of spaceflight by comparing astronaut twins Mark and Scott Kelly, and providing the collected data to researchers. While this is an extremely small sample size (only one set of twins), it was interesting to read that Scott’s telomeres were lengthened during his time in space compared to his earthbound sibling, but those telomeres shortened quickly after returning to earth, and he ended up with more shortened telomeres than expected.

4/21 Organizers Want to Reclaim Cannabis From Corporations: After the 4/20 “weed holiday,” it’s important to remember how many people are still in jail and being prosecuted for possessing a plant that is legal in many states, and medicinal in many more. As white people prosper in the new cannabis industry, we must give reparations to people of color. They have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs and are often harmed by ongoing legalization efforts.

I Worked As a Bail Bond Agent. Here’s What I Learned. A former bail bond agent talks frankly about how the bail bond industry is built on the backs of low income women of color and why it’s time to end cash bail.

Link Blog: June 1, 2019

The racist origins of one of RVers’ favorite words: full-time RVing is on the rise, and so is the use of racial slurs (like “gypsy”) and cultural appropriation. (Full disclosure: I wrote this post, and Gluten-Free RV is one of my side projects.)

Google uses Gmail to track a history of things you buy — and it’s hard to delete. You can see your purchases Google has tracked here.

4 reasons why forgiving U.S. student debt makes sense: 1) borrowers’ overall debt could be reduced by over a quarter, even beyond the student loans themselves. 2) borrowers less likely to default on debts (no shit). 3) borrowers are more likely to relocate and get better-paying jobs. 4) overall spending and consumption could increase.

The use of male mice in drug research skews research against women: animal models have long been debunked as lousy ways to test drug candidates, but here’s one more nail in the mouse-shaped coffin.

Link Blog: May 15, 2019

Trashserver.net is an XMPP server that’s 100% powered by renewable energy.

Offices Can Be Hell for People Whose Brains Work Differently: “Work spaces today come with strong smells, harsh light, lots of chatter, and constant messages on email or Slack. For neurodivergent people, this can be a big ask.”

The AI Supply Chain Runs on Ignorance: Even if you could decipher the legalese in apps’ terms and conditions, the fact of the matter is that not only are developers opaque about how users’ data will be used, developers themselves often don’t know how that data will end up being used.

I’ve Been Committed To A Psych Ward Three Times — And It Never Helped: A personal account with plenty of research data about how psych hospitals aren’t actually helping people when they involuntarily imprison patients.

If You Care About Health Justice, Stop Clicking on “Florida Man” Stories: the so-called “Florida man” is actually code for “Man Likely Suffering From Mental Illness or Drug Addiction.” Stop laughing at other people’s suffering, and stop clicking those links.

The rise of fear-based social media like Nextdoor, Citizen, and now Amazon’s Neighbors: Crime is going down, but you wouldn’t know it when you join a neighborhood social networking site.