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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 28th, 2023

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  • 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?




  • 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!




  • 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.-