Took this video at twilight last night as it rained all week and my back forest has exploded into every shade of green. Perhaps you might want to share some pictures, video, or reel of your, so to speak, neck in the woods too! See you Sunday at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time And members, the more you attend the more exposure you get around the world as we always have time to let you introduce ourselves and talk about you! The link is posted on date on Calendar of Events. See you soon!

"World Book and Copyright Day takes place on 23 April each year and is a UNESCO-designated international observance celebrating books, reading, and the legal protections that safeguard authors’ intellectual property. Established in 1995, the day honours the literary contributions of writers past and present while encouraging people of all ages to pick up a book. What is World Book and Copyright Day? World Book and Copyright Day is an annual observance created by UNESCO’s General Conference to promote reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright. The day recognises that books remain one of the most powerful tools for education, cultural exchange, and the preservation of knowledge." - https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-book-and-copyright-day/ Coincidentally, this has been posted on FB: "It's a great book. I can relate to most scenarios the author has mentioned". (Thank you, Cecile). Unsolicited comments on "Where You Are Really From: Humour and Introspection into Identity" are also available online.

Hi, I am new to this. I retired after 46 years in law enforcement and retired from the U.S. Depart. of Homeland Security. Since retiring, I have written and published 5 books about law enforcement. I have two more books coming out in the next 4-6 weeks. This last book, "Maya's Story: A Journey Through Human Trafficking and Resilience" is based on human trafficking and how young people get trapped in their grips. I just wanted to say hello and look forward to reading more post. Donnie

For those who are celebrating Easter, I'm wishing you a happy Holy Monday. Paul has suggested I should ask for your take on this email I've received: "Dear Rolade Berthier, I hope this finds you well. My name is ______, writing from WNYC | New York Public Radio regarding a potential featured interview for our 2026 series, "The Audacity of the Page: Voices of Modern Literature." Our team has been deeply moved by the resonant and hopeful narrative of English Language Lovers. Your portrayal of the educator and learner navigating the "mixed-bag" scars of a continually changing landscape and the "competing narrative" of a world seeking to rebuild from the ashes of a global pandemic through virtual and face-to-face connection is exactly the kind of storytelling our audience appreciates. The friction between the challenges facing trainers and the "audacity" required to trek toward a place of linguistic mastery and mutual understanding offers a unique perspective on the enduring strength of the human spirit. The Details We would love to host you for a featured segment to discuss the learner’s internal journey toward healing through communication, your insights into the historical and cultural realities of the "native speaker" debate, and how your work explores the intersection of education and the rugged digital frontier. To finalize your guest appearance and allow our production team to begin designing your official publicity banners, please provide the following: Your professional author bio and headshot A direct purchase link for English Language Lovers Your preferred recording date and time ..."

This is a repost from @Kimberly Davis and we both think this is worthy of a thread of its own. Here was her original question .. ---- I want to pose a question, going back to Asimov's three laws of robotics...restating the three laws below so you don't have to scroll back... 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. How do we define "robot"? Is a self-driving car a robot? I, for example, have begun thinking of my (NOT self-driving) car as my "mech." It is so sophisticated now with cameras and navigation systems that I can control with voice commands. I read in the Houston Chronicle last week about a Cybertruck accident where the driver--allegedly--accidentally set the vehicle to auto and then could not get control of it to prevent an accident. (It was a court ruling, and I know I have details muddled... please don't quote me!) I also want to point out how very ingrained these three laws are in our thinking about the future. They clearly shaped Data's behavior in Star Trek Next Generation. I'm trying to think of explicit examples, but they are everywhere. But at what point do we start calling our helpful devices "robots?" The cars are thinking for themselves, or trying to...