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Climate-warming gas leaks must be fixed by utilities in a new proposed rule


Natural gas utilities likely will face stricter federal regulations for their climate-warming methane emissions. Among the biggest sources of leaks is the meter outside a gas customer's home.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2






Donnations for Mayotte Island relief


Let me relay here the call for donations for the relief of Mayotte Island after the devastations of Chido hurricane. Please repost.

Je relaie ici l'appel aux dons pour Mayotte de la fondation de France suite apres le passage du cyclone Chido. Merci de partager ce lien

dons.fondationdefrance.org/sol…

#mayotte #don #chido #charity #fondationdefrance



I just learned that Friendica, itself, has at least three different types of filters. These are content, advanced content, and language. The first two would allow me to block certain words, topics, etc. from my home timeline, while the third would allow me to collapse or delete things that aren't in languages that I understand. Unfortunately, it seems that Friendica.world has not implemented these, so I've been forced to block many people so that I don't see these things. I do undersatnd that only one or two people run this instance, but would it be possible to give users these abilities? I would rather not switch instances. Alternatively, I don't see such options available in TweeseCake. Maybe, sinceI just heard they're rewriting it, they will include such features in the new version.

#Fediverse #filters #Friendica #friendica.world #posting #Tweesecake #TweeseCake



You know you've been spending too much time using TweeseCake when you almost hit ctrl+f to favourite an answer from Perplexity or an e-mail that you really like. Sometimes, I make myself laugh.

#funny #silly



Is there any way I can stop an entire conversation from appearing in my timeline? I see several in which I have no interest, and they are taking up time and space. Remember, screen reader users can't simply scan things quickly, see a word and move on, as sighted people can.

#Fediverse #Friendica #Tweesecake #TweeseCake

Dave Heinemann 🇦🇺 reshared this.

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

I'm not sure if it's what you're looking for, but the filters work really well. You can filter out any posts mentioning certain words or hashtags.


Preaupos pouvant eurter sertène censibilittais


Suis fin #soûl au sortir de 2 répètes laborieuses mais constructives, au termes desquelles j'ai descendu une bouteille de rouge bio #ordinaire pour accompagner des tartines de fromage à raclette fumé.
J'ai certes envie de #vomir, mais je suis pleinement heureux !
Jusqu'à ce que mon pauvre #foie achève son travail.

#maviedechômeur
#maviededépressif #hashtagsdeouf

in reply to Vieux Mâle Blanc

Soit la grosse mouche sauvage, entrée pendant que j'aérais, dort enfin.
Soit mon araignée de chasse n'a plus faim.



Trying to tune Friendica...


Trying to tune friendica to get it to process the job queue faster.
So far just managed to break the site...


I just saw something extremely interesting that I have never seen before. It doesn't appear to be the usual overlay, but I didn't explore it, having just found it about two minutes ago.

"This website is AudioEye enabled and is being optimized for accessibility. To open the AudioEye Toolbar, press "shift + =". Some assistive technologies may require the use of a passthrough function before this keystroke. For more information, activate the button labeled “Explore your accessibility options”."

Here's the website, if you wish to try it.

blountfinefoods.com/blount-s-f…

#accessibility #audio #blind #blindness #NVDA #screenreaders #websites




I have written about this before, and it just happened again. I somehow managed to hide the TweeseCake window. I know that there is a way to unhide it, and also to show all commands. However, not every keyboard can handle the alt+Windows+shift+letter commands. Right now, I'm using a Toughpad, and the only access I have to it is via such a keyboard. I had to go into my application data folder, delete the TweeseCake folder (why it's not a true portable app, I don't know), then log into TweeseCake, then reauthorise Friendica to use it, then reset a few settings. I am going to save said folder so that, if this happens again, I can delete it from my computer and readd it from my thumb drive, but please, can anyone tell me if there is a way to disable this invisible windows mode, or whatever it's called? If not, can someone write a script to do it? This is beyond annoying, and it's really the only thing I don't like about this program, which is perfect otherwise!

#accessibility #blind #Tweesecake #TweeseCake

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Given that TC is currently being rewritten, I really don't think anything is likely to be done about this from the developer's end. From your posts, I assume you know quite a bit about editing files, so you may want to handle this from your end. It's quite a simple process. In the main TC config session, you'll find a listing for "keymap", with a name after it. Go to the main TC folder (not the one you deleted and replaced, but the actual program folder), go into the keymaps folder, and find the named keymap. That is, if your keymap entry in the TC config session says "default", find default.keymap", and open it in notepad. Search for window_toggle and edit the keystroke to the right of the = sign to something which you will never hit, or something that can be accessed from your current keyboard. Save the file and restart TC. The new keystroke should now work and you need never hit the old keystroke which your keyboard can't do, whether accidentally or on purpose.


I just saw "Y'all", "gotta", and "ain't" in a single post! I think it's time for me to sleep.


Since this post is about fashion, let me start by answering the question that I am sure will be on your mind upon seeing my name. No, I am not related to The Beau. However, I love dandyism as a whole, and I took this name in tribute. I am also working to have his book, Male and Female Costume, published online freely, but that's for another post and time. At any rate, I am forty-one and am passionate about antique menswear, Regency as a scholarly pursuit, and Edwardian for daily wear. Naturally, I am constantly researching and trying to expand upon my knowledge. I am totally blind, so I must rely on descriptions rather than images.

I am the type who would like to wear a three-piece suit and accessories everywhere I go. I've decided that for my first one, I should get a lounge suit, since I can wear it almost anywhere during the day, provided it's not a formal occasion. I will eventually have morning wear, white tie, black tie, and informal evening wear, but that's for later. I have found some sites which create reproductions of men's Edwardian suits, but most use synthetic materials and/or zippers, which I refuse to wear, and none uses fabrics of the proper thickness. I found sites that make women's suits with men's specifications (no ridiculous enhancements of breasts, butt, shallow pockets, soft colours, buttons on the wrong sides of shirts, etc.) but they only make modern clothing. Ebay and Etsy occasionally have some authentic pieces, but most are too formal for daily use, even by Edwardian standards! I am also having difficulty with finding some accessories, such as proper ties and socks without elastic. My other option is to have a suit commissioned, but for that, I need to find a good tailor. The best in the world, in my opinion, is Zack Pinsent, but he's in England and I'm in America (New Jersey).

I am seeking those who share my interest in antique menswear, and perhaps some advice as to where I can find such clothing and/or accessories.

For those who are interested in my journey so far, here is my dreamwidth post containing all sorts of links related to Regency and Edwardian menswear.

dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/210…

#accessories #antiquemenswear #bespoke #clothing #dandyism #daywear #dressing #Edwardian #eveningwear #fashion #formal #historicalclothing #informal #loungesuit #masculinewomen #mensfashion #menswear #morningwear #offtherack #Regency #suits #tailors



I wish to begin this by saying that nothing can replace the wonderful consideration of people adding alt text to their images. It is very much appreciated, and I thank you for doing it. But for those images without said descriptions, I found something truly useful. It's called AltBot, and it adds alt text to posts without descriptions. I just followed it a few hours ago. On TweeseCake, at least, you'll hear something like "image with no description", and when you go to the next post, you'll hear the bot's explanation of the image. If you wish to folow Altbot, it can be found at altbot@fuzzies.wtf. I don't know who created it, but I sincerely thank whoever did. If only such a lovely bot could work on all sites.

#accessibility #altbot #alttext #blind #blindness #descriptions #Fediverse #Friendica #helpful #images #kindness #tools #TweeseCake

in reply to Tech Singer

@Tech Singer I use NVDA with the Cloud Vision Ad-on. It's good, but it's nowhere near as good or descriptive as Altbot. There was another one (I forget its name) that used gemini and that was a bit more customisable, allowing a user to write a prompt, set the character limit, etc. , but google updated the version, so the ad-on no longer works. I believe it's available for other sites, though those do require payment.
in reply to Georgiana Brummell

I could never get really good descriptions with CloudVision, I'm not sure what LLM it's using, and gave up on it when I got the OpenAI add-on I mentioned, which has a much wider choice of models, can handle text prompts, and does more than describing images.





The bald eagle isn't actually America's national bird — but that's poised to change


After learning the U.S. doesn't officially recognize the bald eagle as its national bird, a Minnesota man swooped in. This week the House passed his bill, which now heads to Biden's desk.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2






Scientists know our bodies are full of microplastics. What are they doing to us?


Plastic particles are found in our organs, blood and even semen. But do they stay in us forever? What damage are they doing? Here are 6 questions scientists are trying to answer

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2




I remarked earlier today that, since joining Friendica, I've seen more posts about programming than I have in my entire life. This made me laugh, because it's funny, and I've enjoyed hearing about people's different experiences. But I also keep seeing posts and conversations about things such as veganism, anti-capitalism, whites and racism, American politics, mental health, etc. It's beyond annoying. I didn't join the Fediverse to have my newsfeed blasted with radical politics, people's medical issues, and so on. Even on Facebook, there were the constant reminders to love and stand up for yourself and so on, which I never understood, always having loved myself and never tolerating nonsense from anyone. But there, at least, I could filter it out by either not adding such people as friends or simply defriending them. Here, I see conversations that I have no interest in, just because my friends are involved in them, or some page that I otherwise like posted about them. I can't believe there is no way to filter out things on Friendica and/or with TweeseCake. As side note, Dreamwidth is also full of people who write about all sorts of medical and mental health issues. But that least, that's a journalling site, so it makes more sense.

#Dreamwidth #Facebook #Fediverse #Friendica #politics #posting #TweeseCake

in reply to Georgiana Brummell

Does not Friendica have filters? Mastodon does. I have my feed filtered for certain athletic terms, so I don't have to read others' enthusiasms for sports I find tedious, but still get to enjoy their cute cat pictures.

Georgiana Brummell reshared this.








Trains, tracks, and tradition: Lionel celebrates 125 years of Christmas fun


Lionel trains turns 125, celebrating more than a century of holiday magic. From historic models to smartphone-controlled locomotives, these iconic toy trains continue to captivate kids and collectors alike.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2






Churches are making room for grief and loss at Christmas


More and more congregations are trying to be sensitive to those who are grieving during the holidays. The move ranges from special services to the inclusion of hymns and prayers that speak to sadness during regular Sunday worship.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2






'Cancer ghosting' can be more painful than treatment, survivors say


Loss of social support after a cancer diagnosis is a surprisingly common experience, social workers and cancer patients say. For young cancer survivors, it is a particularly difficult part of the disease.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2







Deadly violence in Nigeria tied to United Methodist Church schism over LGBTQ policies


A religious schism has turned deadly in Nigeria, with a church member fatally shot and two young children killed as homes were set ablaze, according to United Methodist News Service.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2




"Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."



kipisi mi li pilin e ni: ala li jo e sona sama. ni li pona tawa ona, taso mi sona mi. mi sona mi.


The infrastructure feels external but it's not. The superstructure feels internal but it's not. It is inside out. You are inside out.




This is a friendly reminder that, unless you are talking or writing to partners, family, or friends, or it's a serious emergency, when you speak and/or write in public, the correct thing to do is to speak or write with decency. There is no need to include obscenities in everything, for no reason. This is true during interviews, when writing articles, and even when writing in the Fediverse, as posts can't as easily be filtered as on more mainstream platforms. If you need help with words, please consult a dictionary or thesaurus.

Join us again next week, boys and girls, when we'll be discussing proper dress, which doesn't mean wearing jeans and tee-shirts in an office or educational setting, or going out in sweats or pyjamas!



I am seeking assistance with singing and learning music theory. This could be in the form of teaching, giving advice, or just listening to me and sharing your opinion of my progress. This is not for a career, just for my own enrichment, though after the correct amount of time has passed, I may decide to take it further and sing publicly in some form or other, perhaps in a choir or a radio play. However, my requirements are quite specific, and I do realise this will be a long process.

Requirements
1. I have no interest in modern singers, musicians, or their techniques. I am using the book You Can Sing, by Clara Novello Davies, as a basis for everything, especially my physical and vocal exercises. I am interested in the techniques of her time and that of her son, Ivor Novello, with a focus on operetta, and perhaps, choral singing.

  1. The above also holds for music theory. I am aligning my knowledge and methodology with what was taught during Ivor's time. A list of all the books I am using, as well as an explanation of the knowledge I have attained so far can be found here. This includes the differences between modern and older singers.

friendica.world/display/84b6ef…

  1. Please be aware that I am totally blind. I cannot use images, graphical charts, tables, musical notation, etc. Braille music does exist, but I don't know how to read it, and would need to have appropriate texts transcribed, in any case. I do, however, have perfect pitch, an excellent sense of rhythm, and a very good musical memory, so perhaps, we can work on modifications that don't truly cross the boundaries into modernity but that are still accessible.
  2. If you do more than just give occasional advice, I'm sure you will want to be compensated for your work, as that's only right. Please be aware that I can only pay $25 per hour at the most, via Paypal. In that case, I can only work with you for about four hours per month, due to financial constraints, but of course, I will also study on my own. I may be able to do more, but not as a normal practice.
  3. If you are a descendant of anyone who knew Clara Novello Davies , her students, or Ivor Novello, even if you yourself know nothing about singing, I would still love to hear from you if you have stories to share!

#blind #choir #choralsinging #ClaraNovelloDavies #music #musictheory #singing #theatre #theater #teacher #tutor #vocalinstruction


This is something I wrote on Dreamwidth in September. I think some of you may find it interesting. I myself am beginning to study all of this, as I am fascinated by the singing methods and knowledge of the time. It is a bit difficult doing it being blind and unable to read music, but fortunately, there are ways around that. My perfect pitch and good memory for lyrics also helps.

Below, you will find various links related to theory, harmony and counterpoint, and a comparison of older and modern methods of teaching and singing. While this relates to choirs and opera, it also relates to the theatre, particularly operettas and such.

Studying Music: Part I
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…

My one criterion was that the methods and books used had to be from the time of Ivor Novello, preferably from his youth (born 1893). If I were to start in the early nineteenth century, which is where most of my preferred non-musical educational material is from, I would miss extremely important developments in classical music. Starting at the birth of his mother, Clara Novello Davies, in 1861, would be fine. However, since her own book, which I am using as my main text and guide, was written in 1928, I went with that of her son. In the following sections, you will find the books I am using. One thing I have not included, though it was a huge influence in Ivor's own writing style, was theatrical music, such as that found in operettas and Edwardian musical comedies. That is such a large topic for discussion that I feel it deserves its own separate post, as does Ivor's music, since it's an interesting blend of all of the above. But this is well outside the scope of traditional musical study.

In the next entry, we will delve into vocal training and why the singers of Novello's time sound so wonderful.

Studying Music: Part II
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…

Finally, since I mentioned the exercises, here they are, for anyone who wants to try them. Note that these are the Preliminaries and Breathlock Physicals, not the vocal exercises. But I have provided the link to her book as well, for those who may wish to go further.

Clara's Exercises
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…
#books #choir #ClaraNovelloDavies #counterpoint #exercises #harmony #history #IvorNovello #music #musictheory #opera #operetta #singing #studying #vocaltraining #voicetraining #theater #theatre


in reply to Georgiana Brummell

this may not be totally useful, but since you posted here you are obviously adept at novel internet things 😊 so I just thought I'd add that I have always found excellent music tutorials of all sorts on #SoulSeek
in reply to Avalon Jazz

@Avalon Jazz Thank you. I sincerely appreciate it. But these are most likely quite modern, so aren't what I am seeking. But they can probably be of great use to others.





The National institue of Health says vitamin D "helps your body absorb calcium, one of the main building blocks for strong bones. Together with calcium, vitamin D helps protect you from developing osteoporosis, a disease that thins and weakens the bones and makes them more likely to break."

"shortages of vitamin D and calcium cause your bones to become fragile and break more easily. This condition is called osteoporosis. Muscles are also important for healthy bones because they help maintain balance and prevent falls. A shortage of vitamin D may lead to weak, painful muscles."

ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Vita…