I haven't seen your posts on this subject, but I agree with you. "Wanna" and "gonna" are useful for two purposes: emphasizing pronunciation where it's important (for instance, in the lyrics of a song where "gonna" fits the rhythm but "going to" does not), and emphasizing informality where it's important (for instance, in a dialogue that contrasts it with formal speech: "Children, what shall we do today?" "I wanna watch TV!"). Otherwise, they have the same effect as "eye dialect" ("I wuz there" instead of "I was there") even though the writer may not intend that at all. (From Wikipedia: "Eye dialect is the use of nonstandard spelling for speech to draw attention to pronunciation. The term was coined by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Philip_Krapp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">George Philip Krapp</a> to refer to the literary technique of using nonstandard spelling that implies a pronunciation of the given word that is actually standard, such as <em>wimmin</em> for <em>women</em>; the spelling indicates that the character's speech overall is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialect" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dialectal</a>, foreign, or uneducated. This form of nonstandard spelling differs from others in that a difference in spelling does not indicate a difference in pronunciation of a word. That is, it is dialect to the eye rather than to the ear.")

Regarding your surrender: It's probably a wise thing to do for your own sanity if you've brought up the issue before and found that it didn't accomplish anything. I personally haven't brought it up here before, however.

Mister S. and his predictions

Yesterday I listened to a fresh interview with Edward Snowden - a person who made a big emotional and political splash\outburst several years ago and who now seems to be forgotten. Indeed, living quietly in Moscow, Snowden doesn't take part in current hot issues <s>n</s>either here, in Russia, <s>n</s>or in the U.S. Yet, it was interesting for me to know what he thinks about all that stuff - starting from <s>the p</s>President Trump's activity to the coronavirus outbreak and its consequences. I found him quite serious and obviously he has spent quite a bit of <s>pretty much</s> time thinking over his deeds and his destiny\fate.

But one thing definitely drew my attention. Snowden is still concerned with the social surveillance [that] governments and companies tend to conduct, and have legalized, and it should be said that he was one of the<s>ose</s> pioneers who started openly speaking about this novel threat a while ago. Today Yuval Noah Harari publicly discusses this at\in conferences and international forums. It is clear that what was a hidden tendency just ten years ago today has become | is becoming <s>becomes</s> a broad practice and reality. We're on the threshold <s>porch</s> of a new era that may enclose us in <s>the</s> a new totalitarian prison - this time electronic. It seems that time has become a better judge for <s>m</s>Mister Snowden than the American courts and laws.

A couple of words in honor of George

I'm watching a documentary about George Harrison, which I believe was shot in 2011 by Martin Scorsese. George was a remarkable artistic person and musician but not <s>the</s> one who tended to show off. He was friendly, spiritual and pretty humble. However, it seems like having him was an essential condition for the Beatles' <s>The Beatles"</s> stability. His role as a guitarist and composer was hardly more important <s>higher</s> than the one played by <s>of</s> his soft, harmonizing nature. I feel like he could have done much more by playing a primary role [?] <s>do much more playing both first roles</s>, but what was essential for him was <s>is</s> to always be himself. Macca and Lennon were far more aggressive in terms of promoting their creativity in songs. Probably they also were more productive. Yet, when you listen to such Harrison's hits as Here Comes the Sun, Something or Isn't it a Pity, you immediately realize that his talent was not inferior to <s>n't worse than</s> theirs. George simply preferred to steer clear of fighting for a more significant role or position in the band. I guess for many years he was sort of a buffer between two geniuses who <s>which</s> really allowed them to stay together.

When I was a kid, my hero was John Lennon. Later on I found McCartney much more wise <s>wiser</s> and optimistic. I do think that he has revealed these qualities during his life span. Today I'm going to praise George Harrison - a Dark Horse who <s>that</s> sometimes made <s>makes</s> the|a race possible.

P.S. I know that there should be a dark horse or the Dark Horse.[?] Thank you!))

Several sentences with phrasal verbs

1) I don't quite understand people who indulge in drugs or alcohol. That's the way they <s>one</s> can get addicted to them for the rest of their lives<s>life</s>.

2) Please, put aside everything you have against your brother and make up with him. <s>That's</s> It's a shame to be so unfriendly.

3) Do you know what these letters stand for? I often see such inscriptions but have no clue what they mean.

4) In my childhood I watched a movie about <s>the</s> a dog who|which was longing for its owner - an old man who had been <s>was</s> taken to the hospital. We cried a lot during the film.

5) I can vouch for him, since I've known him for decades.

6) If you don't want to act on the instructions I gave you, then I can't take <s>a</s> responsibility for your results.

7) They took me on for a month to see whether|if I fit their requirements.

8) Come on, say something in Russian. I was told you're a great language learner. We'll see how your Russian is coming along|on.

9) One of my theater students often talks back to me. I'm curious to know if this is a sign that she's really talented.

10) The break she took from her <s>made with the</s> classes kept her back. However, I think she will catch up with other students soon - she's working hard.

Russian holidays

There are a lot of national holidays in Russia. The most popular holidays are Victory Day and New Year's Day. The first holiday of the year is <s>in</s> New Year's Day. There are lots of New Year traditions in Russia. It's a family holiday. People usually get together with their relatives, cook delicious meals and decorate a New Year's tree <s>three</s>. Russians greet <s>great</s> the New Year by listening to the President's speech and drinking champagne. Then we shoot off <s>make</s> fireworks and exchange gifts.

The greatest national holiday in our country is Victory Day. It's on the 9th of May. The holiday marks the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in the Second World War in 1945. It is a sacred holiday for every Russian, because almost every family in Russia has a person who didn't return from the battlefields. We are grateful to our saviors, to those who sacrificed their lives for us. The military parades and the Immortal Regiment march take place in every city in <s>of</s> our country and are important part of the celebration. More than 10 million people in Russia participate in the Immortal Regiment march every year.

<s>The </s>Victory Day is my favorite holiday. Everyone feels<s>You feel</s> national unity and the energy of understanding.

Gifts

In our country people usually exchange <s>make</s> gifts on <s>the</s> New Year's <s>d</s>Day. On <s>the</s> Men's Day, women give men small gifts;, on <s>the</s> Women's Day it's the other way round. On Easter, <s>day</s> people give each other Easter cakes.

JUST A DIARY ENTRY ON November 15th

I would like someone to correct my diary (or to tell me the natural way of saying some things below. But I would be happy even if you JUST CORRECT my entry). Here, I might write in spoken English, possibly, because I want to improve not just my writing skills, but also my <s>the</s> skill in<s>of</s> spoken English. Could do that for me, please?

JUST A DIARY ENTRY ON November 15th

I did it! The brand-new version|series of the Pokemon game has been released <s>out </s>into the world. Yes, I am one of those who have waited for this moment<s> the</s> for a long time <s>until now</s>. I had serious problems until I got that game, however. On the date that|when it was<s>would be</s> released, I was working so hard at my office that<s>and</s> I didn't have time to buy it, sadly. So I <s>had </s>decided to buy it<s>that Pokemon game</s> on the following day<s>date</s>. Having said that, I couldn't play well yesterday, <s>this date is after the date when</s> meaning the day after the day [that] the game was released, because I had<s>have</s> to go {work out|to the gym|exercise}<s>fitness</s>. Of course I was totally looking forward to playing this game, but keeping in shape is a big-time <s>important</s> thing for me, as important as having<s>much as you have</s> breakfast every morning. Then, finally, I turned on Nintendo Switch, and I heard the familiar old music of Pokemon. Oh my <s>g</s>God... I was<s>might be</s> impressed by the<s>with this</s> music., <s>it</s> It really <s>remembe</s>r reminded me of my childhood. I used to play Pokemon <s>series </s>after <s>my </s>school. I used to talk about Pokemon with my friends everyday. Yes, my childhood definitely <s>is</s> consisted largely of Pokemon<s>, definitely</s>.