I have a Breville Bambino, which I think is the low end of acceptable, but it’s 300 USD new.

Now we’re talking. I have been to the UK quite a bit, and work with plenty of Brits here, so:
Americans are not generally in the habit of addressing people as “you fuckers” until we know you better. :)
UK supermarkets are more like US conveniences stores with more food and no fuel pumps in front. They are OK.
Agreed, the existence of anything besides London, Liverpool, and maybe Manchester is totally a blank to us. Went to Birmingham, had no ckue.
Butter on bread is the only way, don’t know where you got that from.
No reason you guys should care about US history. English history is much more interesting.
Engkish pubs are good. Beer, I think, has gotten better in the US recently.
After Brexit, the UK has permanently renounced the right to criticize anyone’s politics. Still, recent developments there give me hope that it’s possible to come out the other end of this.
Thank you.

France always comes up on lists of good places to live, and there are Francophiles here as everywhere. I admire the place, but I chose Spanish instead of French when it was time to start studying another language, so that die was cast a long time ago.

TL; DR Get in on the scam.

Pick something you like to do, or have a talent for, and plan a path to make money from it. You may still have to work for someone else initially, to develop skills and get experience, but it will be better than doing a shit job only for money.

Research what resources there are to support your startup. Even in places where there is no help from government or anything else for individuals, you will find they want to support business.

Especially if you have extra challenges, if you get good, they will make a narrative around your success and promote you as an example.

I never even considered the UK, in spite of having English friends here in the states, and US friends currently living there, and enjoying it. My limited knowledge is that visa issues are problematic, and the cost of living is rather high. Culturally it would be great.

I honestly can’t understand why most of the popular social media providers are popular. But, if that’s what it takes, could we not?

About 50/50 subscribed/all. My subscriptions are esoteric enough to disappear unless you select them. All is for the local equivalent of doom scrolling.

I’m primarily interested in the opinions of people who are not at least one of male/hetero/cis; it’s too easy for the privikeged group to delude themselves about how good they are behaving.

Ableton Live. Max looks interesting, and one of these days I am going to try it out.

I pursued Zen seriously for a while, I still practice at times, should do it more.

I play keyboards, have a decent electronic piand which doubles as a MIDI controller. I like prog, the nerdier end of techno/electronica/hip-hop, and classical. LCD Soundsystem, Stereolab, King Crimson.

I did, thanks!

Music (but not a very good musician), other cultures and international travel, history.

Look, the fascists are having a barroom brawl. Pass the popcorn, would you?