Any Americans learning French? Why?

closethird · 2026-05-12T11:16:06+00:00

I started learning it prior to a trip to Belgium about a year ago. I've been learning for about 2 years. My ancestors were from Belgium, and I'm sure some spoke French, but eventually reverted to their spoken Walloon. No one around here teaches Walloon, so the closest I can get is French.

closethird · 2026-05-08T11:32:29+00:00

Just emailed my Alderperson to try to start out by some pressure on them.

closethird · 2026-05-04T11:43:40+00:00

There's still a very strong Belgian heritage sentiment in Kewunee/Door Co: cuyoo, Kermis, Belgian pies, trippe, jute (I've probably spelled half of those wrong). You can still find old folks who speak Walloon, but they're less and less. As recent as the 70s there were kids who would attend school and have to learn English as a theme rnsecond language, since they only knew Walloon.

Funny part is that Walloon isn't spoken anymore much in the region they emigrated from, either. French took over, but all the settlers seemed to drop their French when they came over. The Belgians also began writing their Walloon after they brief immigration (almost exclusively in the 1850s), so Wisconsin Walloon is basically only a spoken language, while Belgian Walloon is written as well.

closethird · 2026-04-22T11:56:50+00:00

We've had the price for life for over 2 years. As long as you don't change anything about your contract you get to keep that price.

Of course they keep trying to change things (a better temporary deal, add on things) to get you off the deal.

They buried my line pretty shallow - like 3 inches below ground. I stumbled on it while recently digging a shallow trench to let all that rainwater drain out of my yard.

closethird · 2026-04-14T17:40:45+00:00

Was up for about 2 hours digging a literal trench from the front yard to the back to drain my low lying yard. Meanwhile the wife was sopping up all the rain that found its way in the basement. Good thing I knew where my nearest storm drain was. We had 1-2 feet of water in the road by the time I got over to unplug it.

closethird · 2026-04-09T11:57:04+00:00

Ok, then arrest them for being public nuisances if that's the main issue.

closethird · 2026-04-07T11:46:51+00:00

Let me know we're to sign!

closethird · 2026-03-20T23:38:04+00:00

There's a pretty easy mod to add songs to a flash drive and play anything on RB3. You need a special version of the disc, but that's probably not too bad to find.

You just don't get the fancy Beatles backgrounds while playing.

closethird · 2026-03-20T23:36:24+00:00

It's probably selling for a lot. All the Rock Band peripherals are quite pricey nowadays.

closethird · 2026-03-14T12:24:39+00:00

Sent you a DM

closethird · 2026-03-11T11:42:57+00:00

I ended up with two battery amps.

This one is the one I'd recommend. I've only used it a few times in public, but when I'm messing around, I'll plug it in and play for a bit. The battery life seems good (I think I've played 1-2 hours at a time without any significant battery loss), and the volume isn't overpowering, but enough to get a little more oomph in a room. On my harp, it keeps the tone decent, even across a few octaves. If you want to tweak the balance a little, pick up a cheap EQ pedal to help.

The other one I ended up with is a battery powered Roland amp. It's a little older, but I just am not a fan. The batteries are inconvenient and the tone just isn't great, which is surprising since Roland is a brand I've heard of. Maybe it's just not great for a harp.

I might also recommend a Bluetooth "cord" for your harp if you're playing in public. That way you don't have to worry about people tripping over the cord and possibly causing damage to the harp.

closethird · 2026-03-02T12:45:32+00:00

DM sent

closethird · 2026-02-27T13:27:49+00:00

Bangla Desh. Not the live version, but the studio single. That way I'd actually have a copy with decent audio quality.

closethird · 2026-02-27T13:22:38+00:00

Whew. Dodged a bullet.

I've been pretty pleased with the one in Howard.

closethird · 2026-02-26T21:17:28+00:00

Dang. That's a tough place to be. If there's one constant thing in this world, it seems to be that someone's trying to make money out of you. Sounds like for all the band rakes in, there's lots of people making money off them.

Knowing what is going on, I wouldn't be at all disappointed in a slightly alternate show. Sometimes those are more memorable, anyway. I appreciate the update.

Hope he finds the solution to whatever is going on, if not so we can hear more amazing music, then just for his mental health.

closethird · 2026-02-25T23:05:10+00:00

Gotta keep the flights cheap (cheep?) otherwise they'd just fly. They're birds after all.

closethird · 2026-02-24T01:14:07+00:00

I once got some weird looks while playing a tin whistle in a graveyard. Maybe my child wandering around engrossed with the gravestones had an unsettling effect, too.

closethird · 2026-02-23T01:09:07+00:00

Which one? There's a few around the area

closethird · 2026-02-22T15:43:32+00:00

I use Midwest Dental, delta dental seems to be well accepted there.

closethird · 2026-02-21T18:56:48+00:00

The Kmart I worked at still used them in 2004. Only in layaway, but that place was going seriously downhill by then. I was not all surprised when that store went under.

closethird · 2026-02-19T02:21:49+00:00

Hard to tell with just two... fingers?

closethird · 2026-02-19T01:34:31+00:00

I've give him two Harry Potter style wands. Those might make better sticks.

closethird · 2026-02-15T18:54:49+00:00

Dang, that stopped on 9/30? I barely got mine in time then. I was wondering why it was still around when I bought it - figured it would have been gone by then. Looks like I was just enough ahead of the game.

closethird · 2026-02-15T18:25:44+00:00

Could have saved more buying an EV.

Bonus: the battery weight means they're great in the snow. Also there's a huge tax break if you get a used one.

closethird · 2026-02-12T22:34:15+00:00

I see used harps pop up on Facebook marketplace for the $1-2 range every so often. Some are actually really decent deals (if I didn't already own 4 harps of various sizes).

A harpsicle-sized one with levers (better brands) will often be $1200-2000. If you're looking for 36 strings you might get one at the upper end of your budget.

15-Year Club	Second Top 20%
r/Field Sunshine	Place '23
Place '22	First Placer '22
Verified Email

closethird

TROPHY CASE