Notices by Crystal (mossyquartz@social.vivaldi.net)

@maniaclives @paul @ProPublica
I've been getting junk emails, also. Just now, I logged into my account and clicked to view the privacy policy. I see something. The privacy policy has a paragraph talking about: Digital advertising tools for outreach & education. That's probably where these advantage plan advertisements are coming from. Next to Privacy Policy at the bottom of the screen, I clicked Privacy Settings. Ah ha! I'd not noticed these before now. I clicked each of the three choices to Not Allow! I hope they stop sending me junk emails, now.

@paul Looks like it's after a quietly published NPRM whose comment period is passed, and the Social Security Website seems to not offer those same opt out options.
Sigh.
There was a Notice of Proposed Rule published in the Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 159 / Wednesday, August 20, 2025, listing the Routine Uses on page number 40698.
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA).
ACTION: Notice of a modified system of records.
The new routine uses are effective September 19, 2025.
ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES: We will disclose records pursuant to the following routine uses...
4. To contractors and other Federal
agencies, as necessary, for assisting SSA in the efficient administration of its programs. We will disclose information under this routine use only in situations in which SSA may enter into a contractual or similar agreement with a third party to assist in accomplishing an agency function relating to this system of records.
5. To student volunteers, individuals
working under a personal services
contract, and other workers who
technically do not have the status of
Federal employees, when they are
performing work for SSA...

@paul 🙁 Thanks, I'll hope for the best and look for the worst, that should keep me alert.

@jeffowski as to your first aid advice, my advice is to be aware of alternative first aid materials. Those items on your list should only be used by people who have some knowlege of their proper use and average outcome risks of use. Food wrap and handkerchiefs are on my list. Someone I knew was teaching a first aid class and told us he actually used food wrap, plastic wrap, to cover a sucking chest wound (yes, after a shooting).

@lauren @DavBot @engarneering
As a non-techie folk, I was unable to find a way to use Google search for useful results on the first few pages of results. I even tried searching the words, "filtering Google search results" and found nothing helpful. I stopped using Google.

@lookitmychicken Those are lovely! Now I'll want to knit something too!