@MindF
Welcome! Just find any conversation in the Firehose that looks interesting and jump right in. Follow people you would like to see more of, to create a less-busy Friends column. But don't follow everyone indiscriminately, or the two columns will just duplicate each other.

You don't need followers for people to see you, and you don't insult people if you don't mutually follow. There's no algorithm.

Updated color block list for filters that will stop you seeing posts from any new/current users without blocking/muting each of those users.

Click your avatar.
Click edit profile.
Click "filters" on the left menu.
Create one filter for EACH of these.
Click "public timelines"
Unclick the option to block whole words:

[hash]wordle
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Click the "Add new filter" bar to save.

If you can't put solar panels on your own home, you can join a cooperative to finance solar on other buildings. Here's one in Pennsylvania. You don't have to depend on Republicans to start caring about climate change.

https://gridphilly.com/blog-home/2024/09/01/the-clean-energy-co-op-is-making-solar-affordable-for-organizations-in-pennsylvania/

https://www.cleanenergy.coop/

New users are going to get to see a

Be attentive taking leaves.

Northern Brown Snake. Doesn’t get much bigger than this. Not only not poisonous, it’s incapable of biting. Eats slugs.

Dear Russell Stover,

If no one is buying boxes of all “maple nut butter” filled chocolates, maybe don’t put so many in your assortments, either, mmkay?

Toast cumin seeds in a dry saucepan until they begin to brown.
Pour in water, then remaining ingredients.
Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce to simmer over low heat until cranberries start to pop, 5-7 min.
Transfer to a jar, cool and then refrigerate at least a day before serving. Keep refrigerated.

If you want something different for US Thanksgiving (or anytime):

Cranberry Chutney

1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 cups fresh cranberries
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp minced fresh ginger root
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground coriander

Happened to hear part of BBC Newshour on the radio today. Tim Franks was seriously sanewashing Trump. It was surprising how slanted it was. Trump supporters were able to spout their talking points, but the one Republican who was not a Trump supporter couldn't get a word in because he kept talking over her, saying voters wanted what Trump is delivering.

The Stephen King/Elon Musk story is funny, but it's satire.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/elon-musk-stephen-king-banned/