Good news to share

This issue focuses on AI because it's overdue. I've spent the better part of the last six months working seriously with Perplexity as part of my daily workflow, and I've been meaning to write it up properly. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cover-your...

Just got a new scam: an invitation to apply to a conference in another country as a specialist in my field, with forms for an interview, meeting, etc. Awed by the level of research they did in selecting targets--compared to the awful job of actually trying to appear credible.

Digging into the new 2026 Stanford HAI AI report from the perspective of what it means for small nonprofits--a 4-part series, starting here: susanmernit.com/2026/04/2026...

Totally enjoyed this great read: www.gq.com/story/what-o...

The well-documented and precise level of ICK and grift @jenniferweiner.bsky.social is documenting—and I only got to read the free part—is such a compelling, and uneasy read: open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...

​​ More writing! We went thrifting in Round Top, Texas! Here’s my Style Granny post about the thrifting, the trip, and the experience of leaving one bubble (Bay Area) for another (deep Texas). susanmernit.substack.com/p/style-gran...

New Cover Your Bases Newsletter #87, focused on good things to read and watch: open.substack.com/pub/susanmer...

Reading www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

More fun with Style Granny posts: fashion, thrifting, family, with kind of with a dose of MAGA. susanmernit.substack.com/p/style-gran...

Appreciating the value in this essay. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/29/o...

#AI can help with post-award grant work—but only if you have a system in place. Here are five practical ways to use it for reporting, calendars, budget review, and more, based on a workshop I did for #Instrumentl last week. susanmernit.com/2026/03/how-...

Yeah, I've totally gotten into #vintage! A great self-care focus area. Here's the latest post in that thread: susanmernit.substack.com/p/style-gran...

Boosting. I did civic tech support work for @knightfoundation.org projects for many years.

Going to read deeply about this. Good on you, @knightfoundation.org

#fashion Style Granny #7: what I’m wearing this summer, what I’m leaving behind, and how my summer wardrobe is evolving from last year. open.substack.com/pub/susanmer...?

A new newsletter, Cover Your Bases with movie recs--and thinking about leaving ChatGPT. open.substack.com/pub/susanmer...?

Stupid begets stupid. Great reporting in awful decisions. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/a...

Sharing claude.com/contact-sale...

Loving this great #weightlifting read www.evilwitches.com/witches-who-...

New Cover Your Bases Newsletter is up: susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb-81-ama...?

Sharing www.anthropic.com/news/stateme...

"It is as if the nation were being soaked by a torrential downpour, water rolling over umbrellas and into boats, soaking everyone’s clothes—and the leader whose job it is to lead them through the deluge insists that it is... in fact, ...the sunniest day ever." www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Which of these is not like the other? "Just as President Trump has said, he's been totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein," --White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson--and this-- www.npr.org/2026/02/24/n...

Reading www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

New blog post on obstacles for nonprofits using AI to turn their usage into a shared practice. susanmernit.com/2026/02/an-a... #ai #nonprofitai

This post about AI and the future of work by #MattSchumer has gone so viral that two non-techy friends called today to discuss what it could mean for their young daughter's future. I find the tone a little too dramatic; yet the assertions are spot on. : www.linkedin.com/pulse/someth...

Check out my new post! It’s a deep dive into a weekend of thrifted, vintage clothes for a special LA weekend with family and friends. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb-79-sty...

SO much great energy here. BadBunny is the best. www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Fu...

Absolutely loving this piece about wolf extinction disrupting Japan’s ecosystem, written from the context of Frank Shyong's visit to Hokkaido's Station Inn Hirafu. Dreaming and reading! frankbear.substack.com/p/borrowed-t...

Style Granny! More in this series on getting into vintage fashion as an older lady and becoming more intentional about clothes. And yeah, this one has AI tools, too. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb-78-sty...

The world has made me step back a bit from the socials, but now Cover Your Bases #76 is out. Reflections on right now, some great reads and things to watch, and yes, some tips on working with AI--I've gotten into doing research with #perplexity, so more on that. open.substack.com/pub/susanmer...?

Republicans could stop this insanity right now if they wanted too. Do not let them off the hook. They have the power to end this immediately.

While recovering from my hip injury (and unable to lift), I got back into vintage fashion. In this newsletter, some reflections. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb-76-int...

New newsletter’s up: CYB #75 –2026 intentions, books I loved, vintage obsessions, and why lifting weights is helping me stay sane. Also: Frankie Faison in Ripple, Oslo in winter, and vintage clothes for the win. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb-75-wea...

Starting back today with weightlifting; doing more with warmups and associated movements to keep everything strong. This is 105 lbs, went well.

Just posted CYB#74: Pivots All the Way Down. This issue of the newsletter about shifting gears—injuries, vintage fashion obsessions, and AI tangents—with lots of recs for what to read + watch right now. susanmernit.substack.com/p/cyb74-pivo...

Back at the gym. Thrilled to work out without pain.

Energizing! www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Okay, English language teacher in Tokoyo, jp. That would be #bryanwashington 's Palavar.

So happy to be getting back to training, after 3 months with a hip injury! This is my hack on pulldowns...as a short person, that stepbench helps me grab the bar. #weightlifting

Quick trip to Boston for dear friends wedding led to a lobster roll for dinner.

Had a weightlifting injury this fall, and am just getting back to it now. So happy to get started, again.

Wise words from @karlaliliana.bsky.social www.bravaleaders.com/juicy-joyful...

Moving towards a fascist dark ages as quickly as possible. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

Just reading this fantastic essay. open.substack.com/pub/thenoosp...

Feeling angry. open.substack.com/pub/phillewi...

Today is Giving Tuesday. Please join me in supporting Hack the Hood, an amazing Bay Area nonprofit that ensures young people of color get the skills and support they need to succeed in Tech—I will match donations made today up to $1,000. hth2025-talent-is-universal.funraise.org/fundraiser/s...

Today is #GivingTuesday. Please join me in supporting Hack the Hood, an amazing Bay Area nonprofit that ensures young people of color get the skills and support they need to succeed in Tech—I will match donations made today up to $1,000. hth2025-talent-is-universal.funraise.org/fundraiser/s...

Monday read. Wowzer. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...