Alas, my job has just added new tasks that involve being on FB a fair amount. Otherwise, I'll probably continue to use it to keep up with relatives and friends while rolling my eyes at anything purporting to be news or verified facts.

Thanks for the welcome back! Hec, how long will you be in Japan? I remember that Matilda was going, but I missed details.

I actually really enjoyed TikTok, but it was immediately too addictive. Also trends move so fast that I would get nostalgic after a week. I feel a little sad about all those "men like pterodactyls!" and cosplay lipsync videos.

I cut way back on Meta just by unpinning the FB tab on my laptop and putting it into a folder on my phone. I checked my settings yesterday and glanced at it long enough to find a couple more bsky names. I've tried to minimize the ability of ads to reach my eyeballs, but there are some very useful industry groups that I don't want to completely lose so I haven't made a complete break (yet).

I do need to figure out how to get involved in some local groups offline.

I got the signal app four years ago and never did anything with it. I now have that set up as far as I can tell.

Cash, I've been meaning to say that I'm happy to be a local contact for your eldest if ever needed.

I got hooked on TikTok during my breast reduction surgery recovery 2 years ago. I think the thing that pisses me off most on a personal level about our tech oligarchy is that it shouldn't feel like any kind of political statement to use an app that helps keep me in touch with far-flung friends and relatives (FB) or lets me amuse myself in spare moments with the antics of, say, a charmingly eccentric cat rescuer in Vancouver (TikTok).

Amen, Susan. As others said, I don’t feel any safer just because the billionaire with my data is American instead of Chinese…but also I just want nice things!! Why can’t we have nice things. (Other than borg)

Hec, how long will you be in Japan? I remember that Matilda was going, but I missed details.

I'll be there for ten days, about equally split between Tokyo and Kyoto. Matilda will be there for three months, studying Japanese. I overlap with her orientation but leave on her first day of class. She'll be with a host family (the mother is into Kendo and Country Guitar). They have a dog! We're looking for the right dog present.

Cash, I've been meaning to say that I'm happy to be a local contact for your eldest if ever needed.

Thank you, Aurelia! I love knowing people are looking out for my kids.

Well, I seem to have come down with a stomach bug this weekend. I haven't thrown up since last night, but I still feel off and can't seem to regulate my temp, so I'll be staying in bed tomorrow to avoid the "festivities". I had already been planning to call in when you guys reminded me why I would be pleased to miss any and all news feeds tomorrow. So thanks for that. And I'm also (sort of inexplicably?) disappointed in Snoop.

I actually plugged-in my plug-in hybrid new-to-me car yesterday! I don't have a driveway or garage, so an at-home recharge is not in the cards. So I found a public charging station in Central Square (Cambridge) and went walking/shopping for like 40 minutes, which got it up to a half-charge.. for 45 cents!

The half charge doesn't take it far at all on just EV -- like 6 miles. The gas half is way more efficient than my previous car -- I'm getting like 32mpg, so it's a win even if I don't charge up often. But it would be nice if I could charge up every day, I drive less than 6 miles on a typical day, to work and back and errands.

And, a big HI to Emily.