O'Reilly: GenAI has adopted a colonialist business model.

linkedin.com/posts/timo3_proud…

In case anybody needs to configure ASCII Braille support on their Mac for some reason, here's how:

1. Go to Voice Over Utility -> menu -> File -> Export Preferences

2. A save dialog will appear, pick a location on disk somewhere and save the file.

3. Open the file you just saved in any text editor. TextEdit should be good enough.

4. Find the following line:

<key>SCRCUserDefaultsBrailleTableGuideItems</key>

Use your editor's find feature (usually command + f) to do this.

5. Below this line, you should have a line containing <array>, followed by a few lines beginning with <string>, followed by </array>

6. Somewhere inbetween the <array> and </array>, make a new blank line and insert the following text:

<string>com.apple.scrod.braille.table.liblouis.ascii</string>

7. Save the file.

8. In VO Utility, go to Menu -> File -> Import preferences.

9. Pick the file you just edited, agree to replace preferences.

10. Congratulations, ASCII Braille should now be in your Braille table list.

reshared this

This is diabolical... a Python object that hallucinates method implementations on demand any time you call them, using my LLM Python library github.com/awwaiid/gremllm
This entry was edited (5 months ago)

PSA for #hamradio operators.

POTA operator appears to have been killed this morning when his antenna hit a power line. SAFETY FIRST folks. #POTA

wral.com/news/local/man-dies-e…

My father's first memories are of a concentration camp. My grandmother screamed through nightmares every night for the rest of her life. I exist because she risked her life so my dad could survive.

This Fourth of July, I'm not feeling very patriotic. But I know exactly which America I believe in.

werd.io/america-is-a-myth/

#democracy

This entry was edited (5 months ago)

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy calls for more air defense after today’s “deliberately massive and cynical” drone and missile attack on Kyiv. kyivindependent.com/air-raids-… '

I'm considering getting a Linnstrument (as I have been for years), and just came across this super freaking awesome comment w/ response by Roger Linn on one of his YouTube videos.

This is seriously so cool.

Update: I just bought one directly from rogerlinndesign.com because of how hard I support this way of doing business, and wrote him an email to let him know. Let's make it RAIN for people who are kind and empathetic!

#accessibility

This entry was edited (5 months ago)
in reply to Alison Wilder

@BorrisInABox I'm curious of your experience. I've been eyeing this instrument for ages, but could not bring myself to buying it. I believe the buttons are too small and the whole system is a bit clunky. But then again, I have not witnessed any of this myself, just based on the reviews. I even contacted a developer in the past, but something didn't click there. I am also dreaming to get a Seaboard one day, but so far the outcome was the same as with the Linstrument. :)

The Voice of America on the #4thofJuly traditionally informs audiences in nearly 50 languages about our nation’s most patriotic holiday. But Kari Lake and DOGE silenced America’s voice of public diplomacy and soft power because they ridiculously alleged it was radical, anti-American and controlled by China. voanews.com/a/episode_explaine… #SaveVOA

developer.gnome.org/documentat… is an excellent quick guide to how to write clear API reference documentation. I continue to be thankful that @ebassi wrote it.

#SoftwareDevelopment #documentation

@NVAccess Hi there,

I tried reporting a bug to Thunderbird regarding their chat interface.

I'm not sure it still happens with 140, but I wonder if it's worth filing with NVDA:

bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.…

in reply to modulux

I must admit, I didn't even know you could use IRC in Thunderbird... The only open NVDA issue I found was this one: github.com/nvaccess/nvda/issue… which looks different. If you write up an issue for NVDA, do also link to that Bugzilla issue please so we each know the other also has an issue :)

So I had some more thoughts about FOSS sustainability. I've had them for some time. But this weeks issues reminded me of them.

So here's a mild spruik for some of the orgs who make my digital spaces for myself and my project and also package @librecast
onepict.com/20250628-plussusta…

#FossSustainability #Matrix #ReproducibleBuilds #Outreachy

This entry was edited (5 months ago)

Would you like to end the constant drumbeat of ill-informed legislative proposals that threaten to destroy end-to-end #encryption in #OpenSource #software? Are you from #Europe? Can you demonstrate your expertise? Then why not apply to join the European Commission's Expert Group for a Technology Roadmap on Encryption (E04005). Deadline is September 1st, don't be late.

ec.europa.eu/transparency/expe…

Hey Jamers! 😎
Missed update #14? No worries! We've prepared a summary for you.
From new features to performance improvements, here's everything you need to know 👇

:retweet: Jami gets better with every update.
📖 Catch up here: jami.net/de/dev-update-14/

#14
in reply to Jami

Since the Microsoft decision to skewer Skype, I have tried Jami - I was impressed overall. Though it has a low profile (not many users writing about it) the quality was good, simple interface.
I did not work out how to get the audio of a screen-shared video to work, but that may be due to the user being aged.
I recommend it as nicer and much safer than the offerings from data-stealing Microsoft/Meta etc.

The "big horrible, evil bill" is devastating to disabled Americans, and also a crushing blow to this country for many other reasons. 😢 😡 😢 😡 😢 😡

aapd.com/aapd-responds-reconci…

#RepublicansAreDestroyingAmerica #MAGAMorons #ImpeachTrump #TrumpIsATraitorAndCriminal #ICEIsTheGestapo #TrumpForPrison #TrumpIsANationalDisgrace

Je zal maar in het onderwijs werken en in plaats van steun van de overheid, een gevangenisstraf riskeren omdat je lesgeeft aan een kind(!) zonder verblijfsvergunning.

Onacceptabel. We gaan Kamervragen stellen. Laat de staatssecretaris van OCW dit maar uitleggen.👇🏼

poraad.nl/onderwijskansen/asie…

Open Document Format – #LibreOffice's native format – is based on XML. But what exactly is XML, and why is it used almost everywhere? Find out: blog.documentfoundation.org/bl… #foss #opensource #xml #openst

LibreOffice reshared this.

áno.. keby sa mám lepšie tak to nevydržím, hovorím skoro furt :kekw:

youtube.com/watch?v=MzOce_-6h3…

This entry was edited (5 months ago)

Two of our teams just gave talks at the @passthesaltcon 2025 conference in Lille:

@Xeniax tells the story of "federated messaging" waves and her usable security research, emphasizing "availability" as a key issue
passthesalt.ubicast.tv/videos/… --

@hpk starts off with prioritizing usable security and walks through #chatmail transport layer security goals and #deltachat end-point security status, upcoming releases and prospective work on improving metadata and other goals
passthesalt.ubicast.tv/videos/…

This entry was edited (5 months ago)
in reply to Dave Taylor

@davetaylor2112 it's an option I'm glad to have. Some of the sounds last year were a bit much, but the critical thing for me was having the noises showing how close the ball was to the lines. That really helped impart a sense of speed to the match.
Radio commentary was very good as always, of course.
I'm glad that they're still using FM around the grounds, it's the best choice for zero latency.

Want to join the SWAM public beta? They're looking for testers, and yes they do specifically mention accessibility too.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…