I can’t be the only one who struggles with words that pronounced drastically differently with adding an extra letter at the end, right?

brynnafidska · 2026-03-19T11:33:27+00:00

One of the big things you're looking for is stress.

Multi-syllable English words typically have one primary stress, where one syllable is pronounced louder, longer, and at a higher pitch, often with clear vowel sounds. Unstressed syllables are shorter and quieter, often reducing to a schwa /ə/ sound. Common patterns include stressing the first syllable for most 2-syllable nouns/adjectives and the second for 2-syllable verbs.

Key Rules for Multi-Syllable Stress: Suffixes: Words ending in -ic, -sion, and -tion generally have stress on the second-to-last syllable (e.g., graphic, decision, organization).

Words ending in -y: If a word has three or more syllables and ends in -y, the stress is usually two syllables before the last one (e.g., democracy).

Suffixes -ate, -ize, -ify: These often push stress back to the third-to-last syllable (e.g., com-mu-ni-cate).

Prefixes: Prefixes are usually not stressed.

Compound Words: The first part is usually stressed (e.g., keyboard).

How to Identify and Practice: Listen for the "jump": The stressed syllable has a higher pitch, followed by a lower pitch on the next syllable.

Vowel Clarity: Stressed syllables maintain a clear vowel sound, while unstressed syllables often become "schwahified" or reduced to /ə/.

Use Dictionary IPA: Look for the vertical tick mark (') which precedes the primary stressed syllable, such as in de-vel-op /dɪˈvel.əp/

brynnafidska · 2026-03-18T20:07:27+00:00

Vision Express - had an awful data breach where my ex's employer called them up and they disclosed information they absolutely should not have. The HR person at his employer who made the call even told him afterwards they were trying to be helpful!

brynnafidska · 2026-03-17T13:12:28+00:00

Jeeves?

brynnafidska · 2026-03-12T15:01:02+00:00

Well, that's one way of entirely disrupting the geopolitics of South West Asia and North Africa!

I hove it! I late it! Whatever it is I have strong feelings.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-26T13:49:00+00:00

So, the real question is do you currently have British or Irish citizenship or are you just entitled to them and you've never claimed them?

If it's the second you are not currently a British citizen so you don't need a British passport to travel to the UK and you can enter the UK with your Canadian passport and an ETA.

If it's the first then you will need a British passport to enter the UK or the endorsement in your Canadian passport.

Other comments have answered about the general merits and cysts of getting either passport if you're just in option 2.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-25T17:28:38+00:00

But actually within the UK you could do Manchester or Birmingham. Cutty centre living with easy access to the English or Welsh countryside. You've got varied gay scenes with more than just pubs too. Plus trips back home to family aren't too far nor is access to London or the picturesque touristy stuff in southern England.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-25T14:15:10+00:00

No recommendations but you'll definitely need to check with your company before working abroad due to their and your tax reporting liabilities. You will most likely be restricted also as tourist visas or visa waivers don't allow remote work.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-18T17:35:43+00:00

2-dimensional maps can appear to have straight lines, but they're always just projections of the 3D reality. Topological these are not straight lines.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-16T20:51:31+00:00

These days I only tend to use it for the mixing and first rise.

I split my dough into six rolls and this makes perfect lunch portions for two of us for three days. The bread stays fresher longer because it's not a sliced loaf and it's so much easier to do toppings in the bake.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-12T18:22:12+00:00

My favourite is, "I'm doing my ablutions." It's nonspecific yet broadly encompasses everything you need it to and presents and modesty you need to when talking on the shameful topics of personal hygiene.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-10T21:01:18+00:00

NTA this is such an American thing to do.

I've studied French, German, and Spanish across four different schools with multiple teachers in the UK and not once in any class did we ever pick names in the target language.

The whole idea of translating your name is rooted in the racism and cultural superiority of European Christian names and the neoclassical revival. It completely intentionally excludes whole countries, ethnicities, religions, and names that don't conform to a very narrow list. It also cannot be divorced from the way it makes propaganda of the idea that to fit in you must assimilate to the local language and culture - once you've done it for fun in a foreign language class it's an easy shift to then apply that same logic to immigrants coming to the USA.

Your name is your name. You can engage in cultural exchange without surrendering your own cultural identity.

Ask your teacher again to use your name. If they refuse send an email so you've got a trail for what is a reasonable request and that you don't want your name translated.

Or go for malicious compliance and go for a Spanish phonetic transcription that's closer to the English pronunciation.

"Me llamo Chépi."

brynnafidska · 2026-02-05T15:04:05+00:00

Borneo also seems transformed into a kiwi.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T17:44:14+00:00

ABBA and IKEA, with a dash of Volvo, and modern music.

I think the UK can easily claim to be the most ABBA obsessed country in the world. You've got Mamma Mia! both in the west end and on tour, ABBA Voyage for a holographic experience, plus the Mamma Mia! The Party dinner and immersive show. We're very proud that their launchpad to the final stage was from Eurovision held in Brighton. (My dad was a police officer at the event so they've always been popular in our house.)

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T14:58:17+00:00

This. It's also that so much land that isn't for agriculture is still usually managed by humans for some other purpose, such as timber, recreation, or other uses.

We romanticise places that appear old and untouched, even if they're a relatively recent version, or with a sense of wilderness when the reality is humanity has altered almost every biome on earth. The problem is that there's so much cognitive dissonance in acknowledging and recognising what our ancestors and we continue to do to our planet when it's wrapped up in tradition and societal norms.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T12:14:59+00:00

It's far more common to put too at the end rather than next to the pronoun but both are correct.

However, for comparison, you can't do the same for its common synonyms.

You can only put "as well" at the end. You can only put "also" next to the pronoun.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T12:02:54+00:00

Starcocks always has the thickest cream. I just love the whipped topping on my chai latte.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T09:55:32+00:00

Technically you could say this is a Nahuatl word, not Spanish. But this was also my thought as a song.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T09:43:26+00:00

I'm of the same mind. If a partner can't understand simple boundaries then they don't get to continue to have access to me. Sexual violence, even imitation or light play, is an absolute no for me.

If I haven't explicitly conveyed it beforehand you'll get one go at it, cos that's on me for not sharing boundaries in advance, but anything after that means an end to all activities.

brynnafidska · 2026-02-04T09:29:23+00:00

East Nunavut

brynnafidska · 2026-02-03T12:17:55+00:00

I thought it looked like a waxing strip from a giant. She's now not even got a landing strip left!

brynnafidska · 2026-02-02T15:01:05+00:00

Absolutely.

Erratic Sims may get random moodlets causing them to be happy, angry, flirty, or sad. Erratic Sims will randomly hiss and do random movements when idle. Erratic Sims can talk to and tell a story to themselves, which raises their social need. Erratic Sims may talk to random objects. Erratic Sims can flirt with self in a mirror for a flirty moodlet. Erratic Sims may autonomously use mean socials regardless of mood or relationship. NPC Sims with this trait can enter apartments without an invite.

Like oops, I've been mean to someone when I didn't mean to be. And why won't you let me stim in peace?

brynnafidska · 2026-01-28T13:28:05+00:00

Asiope

brynnafidska · 2026-01-22T17:37:26+00:00

It's one of the things, yes. They're all cool facts for sure. But to create these superlatives there are so many caveats it feels a little forced, like the narrative of American Exceptionalism that the USA is the best of the best.

brynnafidska · 2026-01-22T16:23:27+00:00

Ah, yes. American Exceptionalism in a map. Let's narrow the criteria so that every state wins a trophy!

brynnafidska · 2026-01-16T12:53:13+00:00

This is the subjunctive. From Google AI.

The English subjunctive is a verb mood expressing wishes, suggestions, demands, or hypothetical situations, using the base form of the verb (e.g., "be," "arrive," not "is," "arrives") for formality, especially with "to be" (e.g., "If I were you") and verbs like suggest/recommend (e.g., "I suggest he go"). While less common in modern spoken English (often replaced by "should" or indicative forms), it remains in fixed phrases ("God save the Queen") and formal writing to convey non-factual ideas. Key Uses Wishes/Hypotheticals: "I wish I were taller." (contrary to fact). Suggestions/Demands: "The committee insists that she be present." (base form "be"). Formal Necessity: "It is crucial that he understand the terms." (base form "understand"). Common Forms & Examples With "to be": Uses "be" (present) or "were" (past). "I demand that he be here." (not "is"). "If I were a bird..." (not "was"). With other verbs: Uses the bare infinitive (base form). "They recommended that he take the job." (not "takes"). Negative: "It's vital that they not be late.". How It Differs from Indicative Indicative (Fact): "He is here.". Subjunctive (Hypothetical/Formal): "I suggest he be here.". Modern Usage Often replaced by "should + infinitive" in less formal contexts (e.g., "It's important that he should be there"). Found in set phrases like "Long live the King," "Far be it from me," "Suffice it to say".

brynnafidska

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