if you're alive LIVE

(screenshot from the linked RNZ article)

it took me less than three minutes, and that's only because I wrote a whole paragraphs on why this is a stupid idea. all you really need to put is "don't pass this bill" if you want. it'll only take 30 seconds.

*emerges from the woodwork* *cracks knuckles*

Unsolicited advice incoming, for whoever happens to be reading this and happens to be tired of seeing AI summary results at the top of their every web search. There is a way to set searching via noai.duckduckgo.com to be your default search engine, without having to change your browser or keep search tab open perpetually or any of that stuff. I.e., you can just. search for things. in your browser's url bar. And it will just automatically run the search in the NoAI version of DuckDuckGo.

For anyone who doesn't know how to do this and wants to, the process for adding it as your default search engine in both Firefox and Microsoft Edge is under the cut. Unfortunately I've cut ties with Google Chrome enough that I uninstalled on all of my devices, but I imagine that the process is similar enough to these two to figure out.

(Also, my sincere apologies, o-lei-o-lai-o-lord, for hijacking your post.)

#2: "hi [professor], hope you're doing well! unfortunately, I'm [sick/stuck at work/dead] and won't be able to submit [assignment] by [due date]. could I please have an extension? if not, is there anything else I could do to make up this credit? thanks so much, [op]"

The FIRST SENTENCE is the thing you want the recipient to do. Do not make them guess.

I want to let you know about ... (This email is to inform someone of something not to ask them to do anything)

Could you please do ... (This is a request. You want them to do something).

I'm looking into x and wondering if you can help me (this is also a request but for information instead of an action).

People do not want to read an email and even if they do read it, most people are skimming and not interested. Tell them what you want first, then provide context or other information (when you need a thing is often key). If the email is informational, you can even add "you don't need to do anything, this is just to keep you informed!" People will appreciate not having to figure out what you want from them.

If you can't articulate what you want the recipient to do with the message, you are not ready to email them. I read too many emails where I have no idea what the person wants from me.

"dad" I say, my eyes barely open "it's Colonel Sanders" while pointing down the hallway. He looks, and at the end of the hallway, there's a portrait of an old man, the donor who paid for the wing of the hospital I'm recovering in.

My dad explains as much to me, and goes "I mean the guy *kinda* looks like him, but why would Colonel Sanders pay for a hospital wing Mississauga Ontario? I think those drugs might me messing with you"

Then the nurse comes out of the room. I go "hey, who is that picture of?"

She looks at the portrait. She looks at me. She looks at my dad. She looks at the painting. She looks at me again.

"you don't recognize the Colonel??"