The number of times that hair stylists have had me smell something and it was so drowned out by the other smells in the salon that I was like "yeah, seems pretty low scent I guess" and then I come home and the scent lingers in my hair through several showers and triggers migraines over and over...

I've got a "believe us" x "accommodate us" example for you... When someone asks for a fragrance free option (e.g. at a hair salon when picking a shampoo to use between steps of the haircut), believe them that they actually need a fragrance free one, not "this one that seems to be less scented".

This happens every time I try to read in a less-familiar language. I measure my progress by how many pages I can read without falling asleep 😅

I keep thinking that there's now a ticking countdown for me to advocate for improvements, at least locally, before I have to make choices about my kid's schooling that feel impossible. Will I have to homeschool? Pick an expensive outdoor school? Just because the bare minimum precautions aren't there

Long Covid is now the most common chronic condition in children in the U.S.

also, hi!

it's not perfect, nor is it exactly the same, but the place I'm at now is also civic tech and does similar stuff to what 18f and USDS did, but as an outside contractor. and it's unionized (which makes up for some of the "not perfect" aspects). if you're interested after your sabbatical, reach out?

There's also a surprising number of people who are only now realizing that ICE isn't good. Like... I knew that as an 11 year old, when it was first established? It was readily apparent all along? Keep trying to tell myself, better late than never for folks to start paying attention... I guess...??

I have yet to find a use for generative AI where I don't have to spend at least as much time proof reading, fact checking, etc as any time I'd save. What kinds of uses are you thinking of? The convenience also isn't worth the environmental cost (to me). Or are you not thinking of generative AI?