Things have been a bit complicated for me lately. New job is amazing. Needing to commute, which means increased interactions with the public, is not.
Connor Scott-Gardner
@connorscottgardner.bsky.social
Writer, activist, public speaker. Disability and trans rights. I like to talk about books.
Adrian Klenz, who works with deafblind adults in Wisconsin, said he was told the grant was apparently flagged bc of the words "transition" (as in, transitioning from childhood to adulthood) and "privilege" (one parent said it was a privilege to work with the program's staff). ...
BREAKING: Trump’s Education Dept. cancels grants that help students who are both deaf and blind. “How low can you go?” said one person who works with DeafBlind students and their families. W/ @jsmithrichards.bsky.social for @propublica.org www.propublica.org/article/trum...
I think it is corrosive on a spiritual level to live in a world where we are so unused to justice that a political assassination feels like cause for celebration. We get to feel conflicted about this, we have been deprived every "appropriate" route to justice And also, this is not justice
I am having a spectacularly bad day, but I've also encountered lots of very nice people, so there is balance in the universe I suppose!!
Finished a reread of @scalzi.com Interdependency series, and even though I knew how it ended I still cried.
I've gone from feeling panic and panic only about the move to feeling pretty good. Brighton is fun and I'll be living right by the beach. Still panicking though 😂
In 25 years, every business school in the country will be doing case studies about how a long defunct company known as “Google” once had an unbeatable lock on online information retrieval and then started doing shit like this.
If you want to know how bad I am at moving house, I bought a box that claimed it would fit my TV, but it was actually way too big. So now I need to buy a smaller box and I still have a massive box that I am not sure what I will use it for.
Sorry that all I do is complain about moving house when it was quite literally my choice. But my god it is awful. I have reached a point where I don't even know what to pack next. Brain empty.
What an amazing human this guy is. His students must be so lucky to learn from him! https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdXjKkJs/
For someone who was apparently cancelled, John Boyne is bloody everywhere. Why are people holding him up as some great author. This is the guy who wrote the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and then threw a huge tantrum when the Holocaust Memorial Museum said the book should be avoided.
I feel somewhat in control of moving house, except that I still haven't found somewhere to live, and I start my new job in *checks notes* six weeks. Cool cool. I'm fine.
The fact that the thing we're calling artificial intelligence *can't do math* and yet we're jamming it into programs that successfully *have done math* for decades, then warning people against using the AI to do math, seems like an excellent summary of where we are.
Good thing no one uses Microsoft Excel for anything related to legal, regulatory or compliance business functions www.theverge.com/news/761338/...
Last week of my current job before packing up to move to a new job, and I just wrote myself an alarmingly long to do list. It's going to be a long five days!
I have worked so hard to learn so much of the layout of Leeds, and I've been lucky enough to work with the most amazing cane travel instructor who has enabled me to do so. Having to start from scratch in a new place is stressing me out, even though I know it will be great in the end.
Just 1 more weekend to get my little book for free! This book has everything: - divine labor militancy - AI and automation* - floods sacrifices - banquets - class struggle funny Easter eggs - serious academic analysis? - gardening https://tinyurl.com/2ahr97an
Reading Creation Myths Economically in Ancient Mesopotamia and Israel
Cambridge Core - Archaeology: General Interest - Reading Creation Myths Economically in Ancient Mesopotamia and Israel
cambridge.org
West Yorkshire has a painful history of mass transit projects being cancelled. We won't let it happen again. Sign our petition to deliver a region-wide network in full: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/br...
My AtW case worker stopped responding to my emails on April in the middle of arranging an assessment after a previous assessor recommended software that didn’t have the functionality they recommended it for - every month or so I prod the complaints team. Now over a year into this application!
Hundreds of disabled people and allies have called on the prime minister to take “urgent” action to fix the crisis-ridden and “broken” Access to Work disability employment scheme. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/hundreds-sig...
I said hello to a really nice and well behaved dog today and now I want a dog.
Moving house is the worst. Why do I own so much stuff!!
I've recently accepted a job that means moving all the way from Leeds to Sussex! Any and all advice is appreciated! Slightly overwhelmed by the move, but it is my dream job.
I want to warn blind fans of the Rivers of London series that in the latest book, events that took place in the companion graphic novels are constantly referenced. It won't be long before continuing is pointless, because we essentially can't access half the story.
I'm seeking some geopolitical maps, particularly Israel/Palestine, and Russia/Ukraine. So that I can adapt these into a tactile format to understand the situation better. Any suggestions?
Our government loves to talk about helping our children to grow up happy and healthy, all while supplying the parts for fighter jets that stop the children of Gaza doing just that. Happiness and health is conditional, I guess.
We need to stop whitewashing the history of bigots when they die and pretend they didn't cause great harm to others. Current politicians watch out, we're keeping receipts on you and we're not forgiving trans/queerphobia this time. Stand with us, or be on the wrong side of history & we'll remind u
Tebbit was one of the architects of Section 28 which sought to prohibit ‘the promotion of homosexuality.’ This law emboldened bigots and silenced many librarians and teachers, including some of mine. As a gay kid I was left without official support from my school. It was terrifying and cruel.
I'm seeking some geopolitical maps, particularly Israel/Palestine, and Russia/Ukraine. So that I can adapt these into a tactile format to understand the situation better. Any suggestions?
Today I discovered Jake Gyllenhaal describes himself as legally blind, because he has an eye condition that is resolved by wearing corrective lenses. That's not legally blind. That's every sighted person who wears glasses.
I was just listening to the radio and Israel are describing Iran striking an Israeli Hospital as a war crime. I agree that targeting hospitals is terrible, however how can Israel say this given what they've done in Gaza.
I'm currently having such a positive experience with disability assistance at Leeds Bradford airport. This is such a rarity when you're disabled that I thought it was worth blogging about https://catchthesewords.com/when-respect-feels-like-a-gift/
When respect feels like a gift | Catch These Words
Leeds Bradford Airport are currently demonstrating how assisted travel should be done. I generally don't take assistance when flying as I've reached a point where I'm so tired of being treated like a ...
catchthesewords.com
I have a free day in Amsterdam after a conference I'm attending next week. Any suggestions of things to do? I'm likely going to be burnt out after three days of lots of new people.