This site has helped me discover lots of new artists I never would have found otherwise: https://www.music-map.com/

ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

You make perfect sense, and I’m inclined to agree with you. I think an argument can be made that the internet, for all it’s positive aspects, has made our society worse in a lot of ways. I would love to go back, even though I know it’s not possible.

I’m thinking either Finland or Norway. But the only way I could ever emigrate to either of those countries would be as an asylum seeker. I don’t make enough money, nor do I have any skills they want. I’ve got plenty of skills…just not any that are in ‘high demand’.

It doesn’t help that our culture - especially internet culture - loooooooves self-deprecating ‘humor’. We even put ourselves down for putting ourselves down! I’ve had a lot of success with trying to focus more on my triumphs than my failures. It’s all about the language I use with myself, I’ve found. When I have a victory (even a small one), I say “Good job! You nailed it!”. When I fail, I say “Well, that sucked…but you’ll get it next time. Keep trying!”. Most of us don’t have our own personal cheerleaders, so we have to become our own. :)

Emulate honorable people instead of popular people.

Never use ‘telling the truth’ as an excuse to speak without thought or compassion.

You are 100% responsible for what you say and what you do. Own your shit.

If someone is trying, but struggling - encourage them. If someone is struggling, but not really trying - encourage them.

Don’t waste your time trying to ‘be a leader’ or climb any corporate ladders. Just do your job and be kind, generous, truthful and compassionate. What is meant for you will be for you.

Read. A lot. From actual books. As many as you can get your hands on.

Stop putting yourself down. Seriously, it’s not fucking helping you. AT ALL.

Cooties.

‘Christmas Shoes’. Google it.

I will stay my Hammer of Vengeance just this once…and agree that he is a very accomplished and talented actor…who just happens to be Gandalf, not Ian McKellan. ;)

While he did a decent job with Magneto, I would say that his Gandalf is far more recognized.

True, but I would argue that none are as widely recognized as Gandalf.

Screaming into my boss’ face during a heated and un-warranted argument that my co-worker initiated. In all honesty, my boss was in the right in this particular instance. Co-worker never did apologize, to my knowledge. All I can say is my boss has a lot of patience…

Ian McKellan is Gandalf, and I will fight anyone to the death who disagrees.

I don’t have a problem with women writing fantasy books. I just wish the fantasy market wasn’t glutted with ‘romantasy’ novels. I really, really dislike those.

Mostly just that I value their opinions on current events, and I admire their work. :)

George Takei (of Star Trek fame) - @georgetakei@universeodon.com

Cory Doctorow (speculative fiction writer) - @doctorow@mamot.fr

Mark Ruffalo (actor) - @MarkRuffalo@mastodon.social

Came here to say exactly this. Capitalism breeds consumerism - and consumerism destroys everything.

If I can find three reputable sources that say the same thing, I feel pretty confident in accepting it as fact. The real trick is finding reputable sources. Media Bias Fact Check is really helpful for this.

I’ve wrangled over this very question for years. I’ve looked at all the research, I’ve read all of the articles and I’ve witnessed all of the armchair security ‘experts’ make their claims one way or the other. I got so exhausted bouncing back and forth between a dozen screamed opinions, I walked away. In the end, I decided to go with Signal and it has served my needs for a secure and private instant messenger with no ads or shady crypto-scams without fail.

If you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it.