Notices by Robin Riley (fka Josh) (josh@josh.tel)

I forgot how annoying it was to be sick. Symptoms aren't even intense, but still, a big ol wrench in my plans.

Especially having just significantly improved my mental health by coming out! I was so ready to tackle the new year head on 😂

I love this essay from @AndreaPitzer. This is exactly what I want to take into 2025 with me.

"My advice to you is that if you want to live this next year in a more beautiful world, go make that world. Make it where you are right now, without waiting for things to get worse before you decide to act, or assuming that they will get better without you taking part. "

Give it a read: https://degenerateart.beehiiv.com/p/everything-won-t-go-wrong

@inthehands @seachanger Oooh thank you, great question and very good to know.

In my case I woke up congested and with a headache. Having trouble regulating my temperature but so far that's all I've noticed. Granted, at this point I'm well on the acetaminophen train which might be masking some symptoms.

@inthehands oh noo! glad you're past the worst of it, wishing you smooth sailing!

Well, damn. My streak has come to an end: just tested positive for flu A 🦠

This marks the end of a 4 year streak without so much as a cold, let alone flu or COVID.

Thanks to these combination COVID/flu at-home tests, I won't be brushing this off as allergies and won't be exposing a bunch of friends and family to unnecessary risk at the party we were going to host tomorrow.

I'm very, very happy to be finding more of myself, but truly – it's a bit overwhelming. Don't hesitate to reach out if you want to connect, but please do be patient with me.

I've been an out and proud queer as Josh Simmons since 2008, and I've come to understand that I'm genderqueer, too. Agender, I think? Nonbinary, probably. Changing my name and pronouns is part of aligning with this understanding, and making room for more self-actualization by reducing dysphoria.

I don't know where this journey will take me exactly, but I don't want to live inauthentically even a single day longer than necessary.

@_elena hi Elena 👋🏻 :blobcathearts: :heart_trans:

There's a lot I don't know yet, but no sense in delaying with what I do know – hi, my name is Robin and I'm trans.

I'll be going by Robin Riley, and using they/them pronouns for the foreseeable future. And it's going to take ✨ time ✨ to update my info everywhere, so please bear with me.

:heart_agender: :nonbinary_heart: :heart_trans:

First family gathering after coming out (again)!

Everyone has been supportive but still, I was awash with doubt and nerves going in. They asked good questions, and didn't make a big deal of it... and hearing them use my new name was just :meowmeltlove:

Just a few more things to do before I re-introduce myself in a public fashion :heart_trans:

I keep seeing this anecdotal thing circulating in which a professor is blaming ChatGPT for their students' struggles to, for instance, remember words.

And I think we do ourselves and those students a disservice by forgetting we collectively forced students into the COVID meat grinder, making repeat infections the norm. Repeat infections... greater chance of long COVID... A condition that is frequently associated with brain fog.

We cannot allow ourselves to forget this.

Thinkpieces about "abandoning working class voters" that focus only on blue collar jobs.

Tech workers who think they have more in common with Elon Musk than the unsheltered person they walk by on the commute.

Disbelief that an Ivy League grad with a good salary might've struggled with healthcare.

I dono. This is what the last few US news cycles have me thinking about.

"Working class" includes people who happen to be lucky enough to go to expensive private universities and draw a good salary from their work.

Popular narratives miss this, sometimes intentionally.

Given the systems we're up against? We need to widen the scope of solidarity building.

Starting December 18th, Californians earning less than 300% the federal poverty level can get up to $2000 toward an ebike and accessories: https://ebikeincentives.org/

And lemme tell you, an ebike can be life changing. As someone who is in "just ok" health and fitness, having an electric motor makes getting across town and up hills, even with cargo, feel *easy.* These days I'm biking for many errands and social functions around town.

#BikeTooter #California #Urbanism #Ebikes

Having had not one but two dear friends get concussed shortly after a big breakup in just the last two weeks, I have suggest to my friends:

If you're going through a breakup, consider wearing a helmet for a little while 😅

@mlemweb @cwebber Excuse me while I slide in to say you two are the best and I hope you are both having a fine Friday. Also, thank you Christine for this fantastic analysis – extremely helpful for people who care but Don't Quite Get It like me.

@mattl Hey, thanks for your work on Libre.fm. I fell off scrobbling a long time ago but miss having an automated musical diary.

Your approach and vision, specifically, makes it easier to be enthusiastic about _how_ I bring it back.

(Folks should check it out _and_ support: https://libre.fm/donate.php)

#Music #FLOSS #OpenSource #IndieWeb

Not sure if frequency illusion, or if I'm genuinely encountering the word "mesoscale" more this year.

Today, the Klamath River is flowing freely for the first time in more than 100 years.

The dams have been removed. The ecosystems are being nurtured. And sovereignty has been restored to the Shasta Indian Nation over another 2800 acres. Good things are happening. Great things are possible. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/aug/28/today-klamath-river-flowing-free-first-time-more-c/

#SolarPunk #LandBack #Klamath #Environment #California

I missed the Queers for Harris call last week, but I'll be joining the White Dudes for Harris call on Monday! Secretary Buttigieg will be one of the speakers.

I hope my fellow white guys join me in coming along and contributing. We are, after all, the voting demographic that has the most to answer for where we find ourselves these days. Let's show up 👏🏻

https://bit.ly/whitedudesforharris

#USPol #MastodonForHarris