<![CDATA[Not April fools.]]>Not April fools.

Here's a screw a tech bro for a week challenge

1) don't make online purchases. Walk into a store or call /email a small business owner.

2) no using any food delivery apps, call a local restaurant and pick it up. The tech companies take a huge cut and you'd be doing the local small biz a huge favour by doing this.

3) no using Uber or Lyft. Call a cab if you need it

4) don't use AI tools. If your employer threatens your job, give them the slop they deserve, but nothing outside of that.

5) add in the comments anything else you think of.

I honestly wonder how painful this list is for many people. Is a week doable or have they fundamentally taken control of us so hard we already lost our old systems of living?

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/topic/c5ac7477-2ea0-40f4-b3e3-9814ed9712cc/not-april-fools.RSS for NodeMon, 06 Apr 2026 18:15:25 GMTWed, 01 Apr 2026 16:14:06 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:36:43 GMT]]>@nev @hanktank61

If you want to learn Cantonese, I can help.

I spend an incredible amount of time teaching it to the kids.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332547482831574https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332547482831574Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:36:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:21:28 GMT]]>@chu @hanktank61 My sister and I never learned Chinese, or Malay (that side of the family is Malaysian Chinese) because my father was insistent we would be "all Canadian," blah blah blah. Even if I learned it now, AFAIK the relevant <snip long discussion over whether it's a language or a dialect1> would be Cantonese which is currently being, erm, de-emphasized. This is all to say that it is a pity so many different varieties and dialects are being subsumed by Mandarin, even though it is so valuable.

  1. obligatory "אַ שפּראַך איז אַ דיִאַלעקט מיט אַן אַרמײ און אַ פֿלאָט" (a language is a dialect with an army and a navy), a quip from the great Yiddish linguist Max Weinreich ↩︎

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5WFV1M2CNEVE9Y0DZ67J99https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5WFV1M2CNEVE9Y0DZ67J99Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:21:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:59:06 GMT]]>@chu For buying books: order from the publisher directly rather than Amazon.

My local independent book store (Another Story) has an option to specially order in books that aren't normally in stock! That may be another option people can look into.

I am also a huge fan of Standard Ebooks, which produces really nice, polished e-book versions of public domain works. A bunch of Harlem Renaissance novels have recently entered the public domain. Always worth catching up on the classics imo.

I'm not on Facebook, I get my unhinged, often incomprehensible political screeds from local graffiti, stickers, and printed-out blog posts tacked onto telephone poles. I also find out about many events from local notice boards, wheatpasted flyers, etc.

Instead of Spotify: public/community radio streams! Shout-out to @somafm which has a bunch of great "chill wordless background-music-to-work-to"-type streams.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5V6X8HRHCZBJS5MPWHZCDHhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5V6X8HRHCZBJS5MPWHZCDHThu, 02 Apr 2026 00:59:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:56:44 GMT]]>@DrSuzanne @NilaJones

I don't deny that. It's not a morality test. This is more an exercise in understanding how much our society is dependent on the people cheering our enslavement.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332390317210766https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332390317210766Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:56:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:53:01 GMT]]>@cjmoorehead @chu. can't tell you how much using Linux has reduced my anxiety about what may be secretly running on my devices. For now.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/deborahh/statuses/116332375676435510https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/deborahh/statuses/116332375676435510Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:53:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:38:39 GMT]]>@chu @NilaJones I have found that some of these options are a privilege. As someone living on the edge of poverty, I need to buy the cheapest I can find even if that company disagrees with my values.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/DrSuzanne/statuses/116332319152283837https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://ohai.social/users/DrSuzanne/statuses/116332319152283837Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:38:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:32:40 GMT]]>@nev @hanktank61

My people left and went everywhere. It's amazing for me to see the various Chinatown's in countries whose languages I don't speak and see how similar yet different our cuisines and culture ended up.

Once upon a time in Lisboa, I got lost. I walked past a Chinese resto thinking "I may as well try". I walked in using my very half assed broken mandarin (this was before I started to learn it). The woman apologized and said she didn't speak it in my paternal grandparents dialect, the first language I ever spoke in my life. The woman was nearly in tears speaking to a younger generation tai Shan descendant who could speak her language. She walked my butt back to the subway.

We all left and call different places home but our language remains. This is why I insist on my kids speaking Chinese. Sadly, this particular dialect isn't getting passed on but they can cross communicate.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332295633552666https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/chu/statuses/116332295633552666Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:32:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:26:14 GMT]]>@EdwinG 😆 @deborahh @chu

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332270382061383https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332270382061383Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:26:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:20:28 GMT]]>@hanktank61 @chu totally off-topic tangent: i love the differences between all the different <country>-Chinese cuisines around the world. every place is a little different. see e. g. Canadian Chinese or Hakka cuisine (which around these parts specifically means South Asian/trans-Himalayan-style Chinese food). So many different historical contingencies.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5S05VAKMSBGJDEJKKC13AQhttps://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://status.nevillepark.ca/users/nev/statuses/01KN5S05VAKMSBGJDEJKKC13AQThu, 02 Apr 2026 00:20:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:17:36 GMT]]>@SnowyCA @deborahh @chu
*sad flute sounds*

And you’re welcome 😄

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332236385800296https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332236385800296Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:17:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:16:45 GMT]]>@EdwinG @deborahh @chu

<sad face> nope.

however, this is a helpful tool that I might be able to pass on to someone who needs it. So thanks. 😃

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332233034244137https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332233034244137Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:16:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:08:57 GMT]]>@brunogirin @chu Which is why conservatives keep whipping up their idiot base by claiming that the 15-minute city is on the level of the Berlin Wall. Seriously, there’s nothing more gullible than a right-wing American (or Canadian or Brit)…they’ll believe ANYTHING that confirms their preconceived beliefs and prejudices.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332202377437799https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332202377437799Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:08:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:03:27 GMT]]>@LeoBistmans @johnhenrythe3rd @chu That comment tells me everything I need to know about you.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332180739188144https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332180739188144Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:03:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:22 GMT]]>@chu This is our default: we don't use the food order apps and call the restaurant instead for pickup/delivery, and try to pay cash if possible. Rarely ever order anything online as a general rule. 🙂

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/mike_bloxam/statuses/116332168624285850https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://climatejustice.social/users/mike_bloxam/statuses/116332168624285850Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:55:55 GMT]]>@chu I do all of this every day of my life. My current challenge is divesting my life of all American tech companies…which means dumping the MacOs in favour of Linux. It’s a work in progress.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332151139153129https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://techhub.social/users/cjmoorehead/statuses/116332151139153129Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:55:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:54:48 GMT]]>@SnowyCA 😂

I don’t know where you are, but you might be able to get CBC? 😅

You can have a look here:
https://www.rabbitears.info/searchmap.php

I get my top 4 good ones, plus PBS that’s not listed.

@deborahh @chu

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332146742227201https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332146742227201Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:54:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:50:13 GMT]]>@deborahh *checks PBS’ schedule*

They also broadcast BBC News.😁

@SnowyCA @chu

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332128711461503https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332128711461503Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:50:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:47:40 GMT]]>@EdwinG @deborahh @chu

That's a better selection than this old Hollywood western ONE channel.😂
Gunsmoke and Bonanza...I saw more than enough in my younger days thank you.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332118723683041https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332118723683041Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:47:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:45:15 GMT]]>@EdwinG @SnowyCA @chu we also may get PBS. Which I would welcome (but I'd still avoid US news, except in the event of world-changing event.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/deborahh/statuses/116332109200590580https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://cosocial.ca/users/deborahh/statuses/116332109200590580Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:45:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:41:20 GMT]]>@SnowyCA @deborahh @chu

Usually, these are the channels I receive in my area of Montréal (7 of them, 2 USian, 1 Japanese):
- CBC
- Télé-Québec (Québec's TVontario)
- NHK World
- Noovo (French CTV)
- PBS
- PBS Kids
- Ici Radio-Canada Télé

And I'm not well placed to receive them 😆

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332093763687056https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mstdn.moimeme.ca/users/EdwinG/statuses/116332093763687056Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:41:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:33:30 GMT]]>@chu
I still have an Amazon account, but I don't buy anything from it.
I just use the wishlist as a way of keeping track of stuff I want to buy.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/SoftwareTheron/statuses/116332063027048887https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://mas.to/users/SoftwareTheron/statuses/116332063027048887Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:33:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:22:48 GMT]]>@EdwinG @deborahh @chu

USB, eh. 🤔 interesting.

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332020926120748https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332020926120748Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:22:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:21:41 GMT]]>@chu @EdwinG @deborahh

Well, thank you for being the inspiration for the geeky conversation.😀

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332016520430809https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332016520430809Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:21:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Not April fools. on Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:20:17 GMT]]>@deborahh @EdwinG @chu

I wonder if that's possible.... on no... nevermind. I nearly forgot, out here the only broadcast station they pull in runs old westerns😖

]]>https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332011050550366https://forum.fedi.dk/post/https://social.vivaldi.net/users/SnowyCA/statuses/116332011050550366Wed, 01 Apr 2026 23:20:17 GMT