AMoralNihilist

I would add that I think checking out and joining smaller instances is also a great opportunity. Distributes the user load across servers and being one of fewer voices in an instance means you have a bigger say in who you federate with. You also get to be a third party instance to most of the big drama and don't get judged just for your instance as much

Edit: also, if you like your instance, contribute to it!

Lots of great software already posted, but with some complaints about windows inefficiencies I can't believe no one has posted:

Microsoft PowerToys https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/

Basically, it's a suite of tools that windows devs have made to make their lives easier while working in windows. Some features have made it into actual windows releases over the years, but most not.

It has an always on top, batch rename, customisable window snapping, better search, keyboard key remapper, mouse across multiple devices, colour eyedropper, and many many more.

Absolute must have for anyone that uses windows regularly.

I think the only time martial law can be seen as reasonable is in an outright state of war. And even then, only when it's existential.

It's kind of inherently the antithesis of democratic values.

I'm so annoyed at coverage of these issues and the economy as a whole. Journalists have to use the biggest numbers they can to make people think it's important.

Ok a 64% reduction in profits is not good. But that also means that the company is still profitable and wants to fire the thousands of people, and in so doing harm the local economy, that gave it massive profits for decades.

A 64% reduction in profits cannot be the company making a loss. Yet the article claims that BMW and Mercedes are "also making similar large losses".

Shareholders have been robbing employees blind for decades, and the second it gets a little bit less profitable we have to fire thousands of people?

And yes, I understand there must be some consideration of future proofing costs against a shrinking consumer base, but such drastic measures are solely aimed at preservation of shareholder dividends and value (see Boeing).

https://www.khanacademy.org/

Helped me get through my engineering degree. Absolutely the best maths education I've ever seen.

It's the final positions in the group. bottom to top, 1st to 4th

In a very different way to most of the answers on here so far:

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence.

It's simultaneously excruciatingly dull and mindbendingly interesting. A genuinely fascinating film, but requires a huge amount of focus and commitment from the viewer. Possibly my favourite film ever

I've been using the term "post-developed" for a while now, mostly as a crude joke. However, unfortunately I think as time is going on it is becoming more and more apt to describe certain western economies.

Perhaps something along the lines of "when a society shifts from long-term investment to short-term cost saving, it is at risk of becoming a post-developed economy."

So much of the UK's decision making seems centred around how "we are so great" (cough EU is stopping us from achieving our potential cough) rather than "we need to invest to be able to compete."

Even Thatcherism, as toxic and awful as that was, was centred around pushing the economy forward to a new level of (horribly misguided) development.

Of course, I'll caveat that I am severely under-educated on these topics, but it is a running theme I'm starting to see emerge.

Had a quick scroll through and didn't see it anywhere yet, so:

Dear Esther.

Actually, reminds me I should play through it again, it's been a few years.

Not seen anyone say this yet, but last year my partner and I were in a similar boat. Bumble (the dating app) has a "BFF" mode for making friends. It's worked out amazingly for us and we now have a great group.

It can take a bit of persistence, and like dating, some won't work out. But it's a great way to meet potential friends, and even in relatively small cities you'll find some people on there.

I read somewhere he has a special release clause in his contract if he isn't registered by a certain date, so he would probably end up back at Man City (or if someone else wants to snatch him in a free)

This is honestly such a spectacular shitshow. While simultaneously being an incredible work of financial engineering to manufacture these levers and injections of cash. Likely we will see courts involved, and it would be interesting if the nonpayment results in barca retaking ownership of assets that were "sold" last summer. Effectively renewing a "lever" for them.