The Crappy Crafter

GREETINGS! I added the afterthought heels to my MKAL stockings. My ends are all woven in too. Now I am ready for the next clue to drop tomorrow.

Duolingo’s been in the news for going all AI. Of course, if AI is your bag, that’s cool. But if you’re interested in learning language from resources made by real native speakers and humans…

Here are some suggestions…

Speaking/Listening

-Innovative Language (known for JapanesePod101, koreanclass101, spanishpod101 and their collection of 30+ language programs - teaches languages through conversations (you listen to a convo between two native speakers and then get it explained). Lessons are about 5–10 min on average in audio/video format https://www.innovativelanguage.com/online-language-courses

Pimsleur - similar approach as above but lessons are longer - 30 min and audio only - https://www.pimsleur.com

Reading

LingQ - learn by reading native content and breaking down the words inside. https://www.lingq.com/en/

ReadLang - a browser based tool that translates articles and books you read. https://readlang.com

Satori Reader - (for Japanese) - read level appropriate stories (my fav for reading)

Vocabulary

Anki - not sure if this needs extra explanation - most language learners love Anki’s flash card approach https://apps.ankiweb.net

THE US IS TRYING TO PASS A CENSORSHIP LAW SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN THE UK ‼️

It allows the government to censor anything they want to online

This includes LGBT, adult content, etc

Speak up about this and call your local representatives / senators!!!

We cannot let this pass. it had failed to pasr back in 2022 and 2023 and 2024 due to strong public backlash, now it being reintroduce again in 2025 cause it got introduce back in may 2025.

The lie of “protecting kids” is an old political lie fed to parents and people who don't know how the internet work and use their fear and concern just try to pass bill to try to control the internet and put censorship mask as 'safety' to justify overreach. Real safety doesn’t come from control — it comes from education, critical thinking, and resilience.

“You don’t bubble-wrap a child’s mind — you teach them how to navigate the world with it.”

You can’t make the entire internet safe for a child. it never had and never will be, And the world/internet shouldn’t make adults live in a sanitized, censored internet just because some parents won’t supervise or guide their kids. It’s like banning cars because some parents don’t teach their kids to look both ways before crossing the streets.

It’s a parent’s job to guide and educate — not to demand the government lock down the internet, You can’t regulate away bad parenting, and Digital parenting requires effort. If you hand a child a device, you should understand what they’re being given access to.

what KOSA really is A lazy, authoritarian solution to a complex, human problem.

so instead of 'protecting kids', how about parents start 'preparing kids', teach the kids internet safety, what they can and cannot see and explain why: "the site say 18+, that for adults only, and you're still young, you should't be on there', etc.

https://www.change.org/p/youtube-say-no-to-flawed-age-verifications?signed=true

https://www.stopkosa.com/

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/s1748

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/119/s737

I understand the importance of protecting children from harmful content. The best way to do that is by being an active parent who is there to guide, monitor, and teacher your kids about internet safety. By being an active parent, you can act quicker then any government can to protect your kids. Plus, some bad actors in government don't care about kids.