Lauren Girardin
@girardinl.bsky.social
Communications consultant, storyteller, and plain language writer for nonprofits, foundations, and others who inspire. @lwvsf.bsky.social member. Em dash fan. For hire. she/her juhr-RAR-din
📍 San Francisco
📍 San Francisco
Meanwhile Google maps always tries to send me transferring between infrequent bus routes just to avoid a 15 minute walk to BART, even though the walk+BART route takes half the time.
the way google does transit suggestions is truly sicko shit. it really is always 3 transfers and a 15 minute walk to your destination to save 90 seconds.
google maps (punching me in the stomach): fastest route is uber
me: but i want to take the subway
google maps (throwing me across the room): 2 buses and a transfer would save 4 minutes
me: i like subway
google maps (kicking me in the head): biking is 45 seconds faster
me: underground choo-choo
me: but i want to take the subway
google maps (throwing me across the room): 2 buses and a transfer would save 4 minutes
me: i like subway
google maps (kicking me in the head): biking is 45 seconds faster
me: underground choo-choo
December 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Meanwhile Google maps always tries to send me transferring between infrequent bus routes just to avoid a 15 minute walk to BART, even though the walk+BART route takes half the time.
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Time to cancel your Instacart account and let them know why
EXCLUSIVE: We found that Instacart is using AI algorithms to charge customers different prices for the same items.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
We Had 400 People Shop For Groceries. What We Found Will Shock You.
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Time to cancel your Instacart account and let them know why
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
It appears that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, within the past week, scrubbed a large amount of climate change content from its official website, as well as *removed human-caused warming* from the discussion on its "causes of climate change" page.
December 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
It appears that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has, within the past week, scrubbed a large amount of climate change content from its official website, as well as *removed human-caused warming* from the discussion on its "causes of climate change" page.
A friend has shingles-caused nerve pain YEARS later. She's likely on daily medication forever.
My mom had incapacitating electric shock-like pain for months.
I'm going for my first shingles vaccine shot on my 50th birthday! A few days of side effects is better than the agony shingles can cause.
My mom had incapacitating electric shock-like pain for months.
I'm going for my first shingles vaccine shot on my 50th birthday! A few days of side effects is better than the agony shingles can cause.
All over my FB people talking about their bad experiences with shingles vax and dissuading each other from getting it! We need to give people real info on how to mitigate the symtoms caused by vaccines because vaccines are always better than meeting a virus unprepared. Yet drs aren't coaching ppl
December 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
A friend has shingles-caused nerve pain YEARS later. She's likely on daily medication forever.
My mom had incapacitating electric shock-like pain for months.
I'm going for my first shingles vaccine shot on my 50th birthday! A few days of side effects is better than the agony shingles can cause.
My mom had incapacitating electric shock-like pain for months.
I'm going for my first shingles vaccine shot on my 50th birthday! A few days of side effects is better than the agony shingles can cause.
How'd they record the inside of my brain like that?
December 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
How'd they record the inside of my brain like that?
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Redditors + Repro Justice folks- we’ll see you at today’s r/prochoice AMA from 12-5pm ET ! Link below
December 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Redditors + Repro Justice folks- we’ll see you at today’s r/prochoice AMA from 12-5pm ET ! Link below
The idea of brainrot as authentic art will haunt me.
"it’s the idea that all the metrics X stans use to define their favorite artists — views, sales, streams — can’t make them actually cool."
www.garbageday.email/p/the-cozy-l...
www.garbageday.email/p/the-cozy-l...
The cozy living room meltdown
Read to the end for the Graveyard Gliders
www.garbageday.email
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The idea of brainrot as authentic art will haunt me.
Hey, Yay Area! Here's a Public Service Announcement
Starting Dec 10, most Bay Area transit transfers will be free for two hours. If you take AC Transit to BART then transfer to Muni, your fare today is $9.10. With Clipper 2, the free AC and Muni transfers mean your fare will be just $3.90
1/
1/
December 3, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Hey, Yay Area! Here's a Public Service Announcement
People get so upset over words.
I don't even like to say the word "word".
I've been calling it the w-word
but that doesn't really solve the problem.
I don't even like to say the word "word".
I've been calling it the w-word
but that doesn't really solve the problem.
December 3, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Does everywhere have to blast Xmas music right now? It's bad enough how pervasive it is, but every shop and restaurant has the volume at 11.
IT'S TERRIBLE. STOP IT.
IT'S TERRIBLE. STOP IT.
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Does everywhere have to blast Xmas music right now? It's bad enough how pervasive it is, but every shop and restaurant has the volume at 11.
IT'S TERRIBLE. STOP IT.
IT'S TERRIBLE. STOP IT.
This
Been going back and forth in my mind about it since I saw the news last night and have concluded that, yes, I do expect organisations to stand up and fight transmisogynistic legal challenges - even if it means that organisation ceases to exist.
December 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
I'm spending my PhD researching just this question of what careers in tech "for good" or "in the public interest" look like. Just published an op-ed this weekend about one option: go do tech and/or data work for a non-profit! localnewsmatters.org/2025/11/30/b...
December 3, 2025 at 2:08 AM
I'm spending my PhD researching just this question of what careers in tech "for good" or "in the public interest" look like. Just published an op-ed this weekend about one option: go do tech and/or data work for a non-profit! localnewsmatters.org/2025/11/30/b...
Turns out I might be alive today because of Tom Stoppard.
December 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Turns out I might be alive today because of Tom Stoppard.
SIX! SIX Giving Tuesday emails from one org in one day!
I've gotten FIVE emails already today from one org — and I think they're not done yet!
FIVE!
FIVE!
Happy "Get Ten Increasingly Desperate Guilt Trip Emails From Nonprofits That Have Done So Little to Engage You in Their Missions the Other 364 Days of the Year That You Completely Forgot You Were on Their Mailing Lists or That They Even Existed" Day!
#GivingTuesday #Unsubscribe #npsky
#GivingTuesday #Unsubscribe #npsky
December 3, 2025 at 6:41 AM
SIX! SIX Giving Tuesday emails from one org in one day!
I've gotten FIVE emails already today from one org — and I think they're not done yet!
FIVE!
FIVE!
Happy "Get Ten Increasingly Desperate Guilt Trip Emails From Nonprofits That Have Done So Little to Engage You in Their Missions the Other 364 Days of the Year That You Completely Forgot You Were on Their Mailing Lists or That They Even Existed" Day!
#GivingTuesday #Unsubscribe #npsky
#GivingTuesday #Unsubscribe #npsky
December 3, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I've gotten FIVE emails already today from one org — and I think they're not done yet!
FIVE!
FIVE!
If you work in communications, watch this video
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
If you work in communications, watch this video
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
*sighs in consulting for 25 years*
it never was
it never was
Providing good information to decision-makers and expecting them to make correspondingly good decisions is no longer an effective theory of change in a world where leaders are captured by their own counter-knowledge and produce their own disinformation, even at the threat to all of our lives.
December 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
*sighs in consulting for 25 years*
it never was
it never was
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits nonprofitquarterly.org/trump-admini... @girardinl.bsky.social #nonprofitsky
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
The Education Department is transferring responsibility for many of its programs to other government agencies. The move has dire implications for the organizations that administer those programs, and ...
nonprofitquarterly.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Trump Administration’s Gutting of Education Department Will Hurt Nonprofits nonprofitquarterly.org/trump-admini... @girardinl.bsky.social #nonprofitsky
My pumpkin pakora was a failure, but my rosemary garlic dinner rolls were perfection!
November 30, 2025 at 6:30 PM
My pumpkin pakora was a failure, but my rosemary garlic dinner rolls were perfection!
Another wonderful #LyticsPrompt comes to an end.
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Day 30: Everything #LyricsPrompt #LyricsPrompt2025
Reply to this post (not the top one!) with the artist, title, hashtag & YouTube link to the 1st song today's prompt word reminds you of (derivatives OK!). Scroll through the replies first—if your song's already there, like it instead of reposting.
Reply to this post (not the top one!) with the artist, title, hashtag & YouTube link to the 1st song today's prompt word reminds you of (derivatives OK!). Scroll through the replies first—if your song's already there, like it instead of reposting.
November 30, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Another wonderful #LyticsPrompt comes to an end.
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Three cheers to Iva for delivering a bit of much-needed delight every day in November!
Me: *staring dejectedly at a batch of failed pumpkin spice pumpkin pakora made for a Friendsgiving today*
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
November 29, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Me: *staring dejectedly at a batch of failed pumpkin spice pumpkin pakora made for a Friendsgiving today*
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
Me: The texture is terrible. The flavors are a mess.
Todd: You don't like squash much.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Or pumpkin spice.
Me: Yeah.
Todd: Maybe don't make food you don't like anymore.
"quadrupling down on being a pain in the ass, politically"
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Here's a note I sent to our members about what we did with their money, and why we expect the Onion to outgrow the Washington Post.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
We keep doing weird, hard shit — taunting ICE, yelling at Congress for not taunting ICE, buying bad websites — when nobody else does.
Our members keep getting papers.
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"quadrupling down on being a pain in the ass, politically"
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Let's all make that a 2026 goal!
Reposted by Lauren Girardin
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
The Fallout From Our AI Freelancer Investigation | The Local
A conversation about the future of journalism in a world of “Victoria Goldiees.”
thelocal.to
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Since publishing our investigation into "Victoria Goldiee" at @thelocal.to, I've heard from editors from around the world who've had their own run-ins. A quick follow-up, plus a conversation with @cstarnino.bsky.social about journalism in a world of AI fakery. thelocal.to/fallout-from...
Been the wrong week to deep clean rugs. Drying day #6.
Fog and low cloud cover still stubbornly clinging to the interior valleys of the North Bay and East Bay, so temperatures there will only top out in the 50s. Highs in the 60s elsewhere -- all in all, a nice Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Been the wrong week to deep clean rugs. Drying day #6.
Reason #284 your organization needs human writers and editors
Even the the damn twitter card for this Nature Scientific Reports is clearly AI Slop.
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reason #284 your organization needs human writers and editors