My family has all switched to Signal, including family overseas in Europe (non-English speaking, varying age groups). It has all the features you mentioned, as well as gif responses my aunt and parents are into. Personally I find the look and feel of it to be preferable to whatsapp as well. It’s not as visually cluttered imo and has none of the spam/scams I had been getting on whatsapp.

I also use signal now as my primary messenger over sms or anything else. I love being able to edit responses and emoji react even tho I don’t have an iphone anymore. Plus all the added security of encryption of course.

404 accounts are free

I love these kn95s - with nose foam and adjustable ear loops: https://wellbefore.com/products/3d-kf94-style-kn95-pro-mask-with-adjustable-ear-loops

Anecdotal, but I ALSO got shingles following my first (and only, afaik) case of COVID (I am well under 50 years old). It was in the top-5 most painful experiences, maybe tied for first place with kidney infection.

Most people close to me (family, partner, friends) had at least one lingering effect as well after having it, including eczema, loss of taste/smell, neuropathy, two unrelated uncles got cancer, high blood pressure, heart attack, and other cases of shingles.

Oh you’re right, my bad!

• Breezy Weather
• Organic Maps
• RadioDroid
• Higgsters (lite ad-free games like solitaire and boggle) oop not open source. Free and private tho afaik

• https://organizingmythoughts.org/

• https://www.donotpanic.news/

This is false. The vaccines that are currently being administered in the US are the 2025/26 formula.

Soulseek. Also ask for the rss feed in podcast chats I’m in.

Alt text - gif from adventure time of a robot made out of a toaster oven driving around in a circle on grass. Text over the image reads “why, creator? Does it please you to watch me struggle?”

I’ve been just using more specific/targeted search engines. I put them on a bookmarks page I coded and that’s my homepage when I open my browser. And then when I need just a general Google search without ai summary, my new tabs page goes to udm=14. Still not great - but fine when I just need to double check a url or search images.

I highly recommend Wiby and Marginalia for more indie/non-corporate website searches!

Oh also searching directly in Wikipedia when I’m looking up something that might have an entry there (science/history/whatever) that I just need an overview or definition of

I just made a free static site on neocities for my links. omg.lol looks like a cool option as well (open source but not free tho)

Neither of these are fedi/activity pub but they’re not so bloated/none of the tracking and privacy issues that linktr.ee has

I had never heard of him before. What’s his deal?

Lol this is such a bizarre comment. Back then, AI wasn’t scraping everything humans made for the profit of a few. It was a non-issue, and therefore you have no standing in claiming that “that was the whole point.”

This works as well on my phone as it does on my computer, and loads faster than most modern websites making it that much more accessible to MORE humans.

The web designer isn’t limiting access, they are expanding on it - for humans. The people actually sentient and able to understand their words rather than just copy and recontextualize them.

https://linktr.ee/buymasks Not mine!! But great resource for coupon codes and they also have a mask fit guide and link to the mask bloc directory iirc

And these are the N95s I buy when they are 50% Off (happens infrequently, and a friend and I usually split the 50 box. With the sale it’s like $1.60/mask – not as bad as I had remembered.

I believe you can find 3M Auras at similar or even cheaper cost, and they seem to always be available from the mask blocs near me. (Pretty universal fit, but the red strap ones are a bit better for smaller faces)

Aside from specific mask brands/websites, this is how I keep mask-wearing affordable (for me, I aim for <$2/mask overall)

-Shop sales/subscriptions -Buy in bulk when possible -utilize local mask blocs!! -started a group chat on signal where me and friends alert each other to sales or pool resources for group-buys -I re-wear my masks. Probably close to 25-30hrs each. I leave them to dry for a few days to a week in between depending on my stock and schedule and toss them when the straps wear out or they begin to look dirty/lose shape.

Ok for brands- I can’t remember the N95 I usually wear, but that’s my most expensive mask and I save that for longer term wear and higher risk like work. I’ll try to remember to link but I always wait for the sale. Then Wellbefore and Bonafide (bonafide lowers price the more you buy, and usually has a 25% coupon code). Wellbefore is a little pricey but they have a subscription price thay helps.

Passive voice made this headline borderline unreadable

Maybe a compromise could be including “US:” in the title, so others may scroll past

I always liked Raffi growing up, I don’t think those songs have any capitalist or oppressive themes?

Also songs with nature or animal themes, like “And the green grass grew all around” lyrics here- https://kids.niehs.nih.gov/games/songs/childrens/green-grass-grew

And this one by Kimya Dawson and Antsy Pants - Tree Hugger is wicked cute

Sesame Street?? Must have some fun ones

Seconding little red song book, and also just singing songs you like and you can always adjust for the kiddo’s interests or whatever