I won’t go into the reasons why you’re doing that. Instead, I’ll just focus on your plans, because I don’t think a gradual change of accent will go unnoticed. Just do it. Embrace the American accent you love so much and live it to the fullest. And if anyone asks you what happened, just say you’re tired of your own accent and are trying something new. Explain it clearly to others and own up to it. This will make you feel good because you’re being honest by telling others why you have decided to change.

However, you should bear in mind that a language is much more than just an accent. It also includes people’s choice of words and idioms and expresses the way they see the world. It would be strange if I decided to speak Brazilian Portuguese with a Portuguese accent (from Portugal). Those who know me would be confused because this “Portuguese character” in me speaks the local language perfectly with the wrong accent. How come?

You know what they say: you have to rush when Mother Nature calls. Under those circumstances, it can be difficult to read the instructions first. Good to know you saved the poor tourist a free chemical bath.

Jim’s a clever guy. We could even seek inspiration in some trash cans that have embraced the pedal idea. Can you believe we’re in the 21st century, surround by ai systems, risking extinction for various reasons, and unable to solve the toilet seat conundrum?

Unfortunately, I’ve never been to France, but nothing beats a spotless clean public toilet. And, thanks for the tip: if someone holds the door for you, kindly step back. That alone should be highlighted in all tourist guides.

I think someone urgently needs to come up with one of these solutions:

1. The foot-operated lid;
2. The toilet with flush and suction;
3. The Jedi throne (a Jedi-style toilet lid activated by hand movements) and lastly
4. The Terminator (a time-activated flames of hell) solution. The time-activated mechanism locks the toilet door after the user leaves and burns the entire compartment at solar flare temperatures.

Thank you for your efforts to keep this place clean and civil, and especially for the transparency in describing how you’ve dealt with such annoyances. You have my respect.

A few years ago, I photograghed a red tanager in my area that had some features in common with the one you shot, though the beak was quite different. https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmancuso/50106001271/in/photolist-2jkGmvD-2kbqxPA-2gZKAPK-2gstFxA-2jaEwgw-23JH2RA-2gDtE8V-2je14fE-25nRwy8-25x61bu-Uw9xuA-2jdULXE-2j9r17j-27juFBR-2k4bWoc-2gQDWNC-2hqyPux-2jdVcuA-2heo277-Su3NEQ-26dGa99-2jbTd21-2iPaAeV-EXufyB-26d2eqK-29iMyBP-2iZdHB7-2bGpSSX-2hLyRSP-25WR3W8-2gedVfQ-2csuL4b-2ggPbDq-2jdULU8-Ms26XS-2cq2zAp-2iRBKP2-27wZFaT-2g6avHs-2jBHq5k-2gbWFvy-23HK5Un-2jgbgs6-2jfkQDe-2bXHtnK-2gQEKCR-2gQEKxa-2g5btUL-2hjdUFD-HXixd5

Like yourself, I have missed shooting it.

Not a mass exodus. Call it a brain drain, if you will. The churn includes those who posted or were moderators. Since those who stayed are directly or indirectly supporting practices that most of us find unacceptable, Reddit will probably forever have that sour taste. It will gradually turn into a pale reminder of what it once was, and it will lose its spark. The sheer volume, quality, and length of posts in the Fediverse is indicative of new user profiles. I am so glad I took the plunge!

Try out photography! Get some basic tips on composition and light before your trip. Use your own phone so you don’t have to make an initial investment. If you search for “badlands” on Flickr.com, you’ll get some ideas on photography and find some interesting places, too. You might even consider expanding your initial photography skills upon your return, and this could become a rewarding hobby that encourages you to visit and photograph beautiful places.

I also miss the change to list all post under a community (e.g. “technology”) regardless of where it is. I have multiple accounts, which works as a safety insurance against slow severs. However, I find it a pain being unable to group similar communities under the same umbrella. Hope such functionality is implemented at some point.

COVID-19 turned into a perfect storm as most schools were unprepared for remote learning. Add to that the fact that many students had no access to a reliably fast internet connection and the whole literacy picture gets rather bleak. Thanks for sharing your views on my perspective.

It’s better to bask in this island of growth and engagement than to sink down a rabbit hole of revenue that yields nothing. It’s such a satisfying feeling to talk to people you know and respect instead of diving into a karmic spiral full of bots flooding the place with toxicity. When the author says, “There’s simply no place left on the internet that feels like a good, healthy, worthwhile place to hang out,” I think that somehow this is a good place. For the first time in a long while I feel compelled to join the discussion and share my thoughts. It’s true that “the Fediverse isn’t there yet,” but that’s what we’re here for. Just the thought that some things are still halfway in the oven, or haven’t even found their way in yet, makes the whole experience much more rewarding. And remember, there are no ads. Every day I miss Reddit and Twitter less (I had closed my account there a long time ago). I believe Lemmy has a bright future ahead of it, the success of which I believe depends on preventing uncontrolled growth. Time will tell.

No single answer is comprehensive enough to explain the low literacy levels in the US. That’s because some of the contributing factors include:

• Parents with little schooling.
• Lack of books and reading encouragement at home.
• Dropping out of school.
• Difficult living conditions – including poverty.
• Learning disabilities.

Each of these topics has social and political implications and we, as a society, have made choices that privilege the rich and the least vulnerable. Our immediacy leads us to focus on inflation rates, employment, and reelection (don’t get me wrong, these are essential points). But we should also seek solutions to bring parents back to school, campaign for more books at home, and improve schooling to prevent dropout.

The discussion of U.S. illiteracy gets gloomier when we consider the differences between “literacy” (reading, writing, and math skills) and “functional literacy” (the practical use of these skills to manage daily life and improve socioeconomic well-being).

There’s a long and rocky road to reverse this picture, and some of the possible solutions to promote higher levels of literacy in society should take into account:

• low income resources
• stigma and shame
• lack of awareness
• limited access to education
• technological barriers
• limited funding for literacy programs.

So, how is it possible that roughly 50% of Americans can’t read above a 6th grade level and how are 21% just flat out illiterate?

All of the above, and probably more!

I guess that’s because “World” is a pretty bold statement and suggests an expanse that can accommodate a truckload of migrants. Add to that the open signups and my natural aversion to smaller instances (I tend to think someone with a few users may feel tempted to pull the plug at any moment), and here we are. By the way, I have had a great experience with Connect for Lemmy - if anyone is interested.

Think of Bolsonaro as a tropical caricature of whiny Donald, and you’ll get the picture.

Yes, it will. But at what cost? Over time, the brain drain will likely become more pronounced as moderators jump ship and those who remain become a compliant group of lickspittles. As Reddit faces the consequences of its disastrous policies, it will become even more aggressive in securing revenue - and likely even more despotic. It can take years to build a reputation, and a few months to lose it. I suspect that their CEO has done an excellent job of accelerating this process.

A day to celebrate! Bolsonaro is a mediocre politician whose insignificant contribution could earn him a rightful reputation as Brazil’s worst president. His disastrous tenure served no purpose other than cloning a Trump-like management and paving the way for his reelection. He has made Brazilian society even more divisive, intolerant and hateful. His infamous contributions include:

• Discrediting vaccination (COVID -19 especially).
• Promoting intolerance towards LGBTQ+.
• Encouraging everyone to own guns.
• Closing incentives for arts and culture.
• Promoting deforestation of a large part of the Amazon jungle.
• Ignoring the pleas of Indians for food and medical assistance.
• Undermining the credibility of the electoral system.
• Neglecting Brazil’s diplomatic relations.
• Poisoning relations with the press.
• Attempting a coup d’état to overthrow President-elect Lula.

These are just a few highlights of a long list of misdeeds that define him as an unsympathetic jerk. I know that may sound like a lot, but as you get to know this character, you will probably be tempted to add some additional notes to the above list.-

By now it’s clear that Dune II unpacks such a punchy plot with unexpected twists interpreted by such fine actors. Add to that the great soundtrack and stunning visuals, and we’re in for a memorable sequel. I can smell popcorn already.