My experience of 4.0

Patreon?

I've been serializing a game in writing since last April. Normally between 200-1000 words a day, up to 1800 I think was the most, based on very detailed notes. One year at a time. Sure, some days, not much happens, but I use those to step back and tell some of the wider story, give context, give character vignettes, that sort of thing. Keep it to the character drama of the "CK3-as-RPG" approach. Foreshadow later developments. Refer back to IRL and in-game history. Bring in characters' Culture and stuff in ways that are often too subtle to include at busy times. I have a following of maybe a hundred friends on Facebook. All people I know, no wider audience. I'm not sure I want a wider audience. However, Facebook is becoming intolerably enshittified. I'm planning to deprioritise it shortly, just keep a token presence there for contact with family members too old to move platforms. I've been wondering about other platforms, and that got me wondering what the licensing was for the use of screenshots - because I'm putting a *lot* into this story\* and it wouldn't hurt to, say, put it up on Patreon at $0.10 a day. $3/month/person in my audience would not be a small amount to me, especially as I'm on unemployment right now. How would I even find that out? \*don't worry, I know it's for my own gratification. I love writing. I love people reading my writing. And this game provides a wonderful skeleton to write around.

Absolutely enormous wild boar

Absolutely enormous wild boar

People freaking out over Elon Musk's Bellamy salute are being disonest

Even the ADL declares that there was nothing sinister about the salute, and I've seen leftists quote them dozens of times on what is hateful or not. Plus they have plenty of PhDs working for them. People should listen to them and trust the science. Sorry this attempt to smear Elon flopped. Better luck next time.

Help us decide: Berlin vs. Toronto vs. returning home as our permanent home?

Hi everyone, We are a couple in our early 30s from South Asia, currently based in Berlin and working in tech. I’m a product manager with 3-4 years of experience, and my wife works in product analytics. We received our Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry and activated it in June 2023. We have about a year to decide whether to move to Canada or let it go entirely. Meanwhile, in Berlin, we’ll be eligible to apply for permanent residence in a couple of years and potentially citizenship a few years after that. Returning to our home country is also an option, but we want to make an informed decision with as many facets covered as possible. Here’s some important context: * We don’t speak any German yet, and integrating into German culture has been challenging for us. We haven’t actively tried to integrate due to the language barrier, which might play a role in our decision to stay in Berlin long-term. * While we enjoy the lifestyle Berlin offers, we wonder if moving to Canada (Toronto or Vancouver) or even returning home might be a better fit for us. * We do not want to move to Canada without me landing a job prior to landing. Here’s what we’re considering: 1. **Career Opportunities:** * How do the tech job markets in Toronto and Vancouver compare to Berlin? * Are salaries competitive in Canada when adjusted for cost of living? 2. **Cost of Living:** * Berlin is relatively affordable for now, but we’ve heard housing in Canada’s major cities is extremely expensive. How do other expenses like healthcare, childcare, and groceries compare? 3. **Work-Life Balance:** * Berlin is known for its emphasis on work-life balance. What’s the culture like in Canadian tech companies? 4. **Immigration Benefits & Long-Term Stability:** * As permanent residents in Canada, we’d have a clear path to citizenship. In Berlin, we’ll also have opportunities to apply for permanent residence and citizenship eventually. How do these pathways compare for long-term stability? 5. **Community and Lifestyle:** * Are there active South Asian communities in Toronto or Vancouver? How do cultural diversity and inclusivity compare between Canada and Berlin? * We also enjoy Berlin’s vibrant lifestyle—how do Canada’s cities compare in terms of cultural and social experiences? 6. **Weather and Quality of Life:** * We’re accustomed to Berlin’s weather. How manageable are the harsh winters in Canada, and how does it impact day-to-day life? 7. **Returning Home:** * While we’d prefer to stay abroad for the foreseeable future, returning home is always an option. If anyone has been in a similar position, we’d love to hear your thoughts on making this decision. I know ultimately it is on us to make this decision which will be very contextual to our current lives and plans. Having said that, I wanted to get a broad opinion on those points. It will be even more fantastic if I can have some Germans who made Canada home or vice versa as you would have lived both sides of the life. From my experience of living in Berlin so far, here are some points: 1. Salaries in tech are low compared to the US. 2. The social security, job security and unemployment benefits are high (atleast on paper). But we have fortunately not had a chance to experience any of the above. 3. While I read that getting specific medical care can be difficult in Germany, we have had relatively quick access to dentists and general practitioners here. Our bodies are supporting us as age is on our side but I dont know how the future will pan out in terms of health.