janeerie

My son has a cochlear implant, and he loves music (he's practicing his violin right now). The brain adapts!

Yeah, my son is deaf with GJB2 (my husband and I had no idea we were carriers) so I've been following these rather closely. The OTOF work was exciting, but for such a small population!

It's crazy to think that in the not so far future, we won't have to worry about these devices at all.

There's a good thread on Reddit from a recipient of this implant talking about his experience: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cochlearimplants/comments/1wu4zjz/t...

In related news, 2 companies have begun human trials on genetic therapy for the most common cause of hearing loss (GJB2). I'm sure cochlear implant companies are a bit nervous about this development!

You could share the same concern about any cochlear implant, I suppose. There are three (Med-El, Advanced Bionics, and Cochlear) and all are quite stable and provide great support.

Yeah, I do. My personal laptop is a Macbook Air, so not too much of a burden.

"I also think that wholegarment knits look kind of cheap and that sewing actually adds structural integrity and durability to a garment."

This is an ongoing discussion in the handknitting community. Knitters generally hate seaming (we're not sewers!) so the most popular patterns tend to be seamless. However, many argue that this leads to shapeless, saggy garments that aren't as wearable.

I used to have this problem until I was given the tip to tense various muscles throughout my body during the process. Do not listen to the nurses who tell you to relax!

Two things that we use for my son's CI are a cable wrap, which gives the cable a bit of reinforcement, and what we call the "eagle claw" - a little plastic hook that goes on the bottom and hooks around the ear lobe to give it a bit more stability.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/870982894/cochlear-implant-cabl...

I don't know how one could classify USS Callister and Black Museum as having happy endings! The fates of the bad guys in those episodes are so horrible they still haunt me. Doesn't make it any better that they are bad guys!

That's the direction Direct File was aiming in. This year it was able to import W-2s and limited other data, but the vision was always to bring in as much info as possible.

Yes, I would really like to see research targeting Connexin 26, since it's the most common cause of hearing loss, but it seems it's much more difficult to "cure."

One mistake you making is thinking that rationalists care more about people far away than people in their community. The reality is that they set the value of life the same for all.

If children around you are doing of an easily preventable disease, then yes, help them first! If they just need more arts programs, then you help the children dying in another country first.

This was in the post I was responding to.

Yes, but you may want to reword this part, since it implies that DF is already shut down:

  "The IRS will no longer accept returns directly."

This isn't true - you can still submit through Direct File: https://directfile.irs.gov/

They're not all short haul. I can do a direct to DCA from SLC.

Oh, I know. But the fate of 18F and Direct File are not directly connected.

I don't know why you're getting downvoted, but you are correct. It's essential that as many people as possible know about and use Direct File this year, to provide evidence that it ought to be continued.

This is exactly right. Direct File got thrown into the discussion, but it was not the reason that 18F was getting labelled as far-left.

Direct File is following a phased roll-out approach to avoid the "big launch" problem that tends to plague government tech projects. The goal is to serve all citizens, but taxes are very complex, and it will take time to address all scenarios.

Also, as the below commenter mentioned, states need to agree to be part of Direct File.

They were part of the effort, but not the main component. Direct File is still alive and functioning, for this tax season at least.

Colorado also has one: https://oit.colorado.gov/colorado-digital-service

18F is not the group behind Direct File, and it's very annoying that this narrative keeps getting spread. DF was created by a team of people from USDS, 18F and the IRS. It's housed within the IRS.

USDS is supposed to set the example of how to "do" tech in the federal government and build capacity at agencies. The fact that this organization is being dismantled is significant.

We have the same mutation and have a deaf son (we had no idea we were carriers until after he was born and failed the hearing screening). I've often wondered if we had decided to have another child if I would have done IVF and selected a hearing child. And I don't think I could do it. It's not rational at all, but it would feel like a rejection of my son (who is doing amazing with his cochlear implant).

Ww wa

Can you point me towards more info on GJB2 therapies? This is the cause of my son's hearing loss.

I always hear about not taking psychedelics if you're not in a good place mentally, but then how could it possibly be a treatment for anxiety?

Yeah, if you have a functional footer, you can't have infinite scroll. This is why Kroger isn't doing it.

You basically just did exposure therapy (the most effective therapy for anxiety) with cannabis as your trigger.