Big Lots says it is having going-out-of-business sales as it seeks a new buyer


The national discount retailer says that a previously announced deal to sell itself to a private-equity group fell through.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2



The world's biggest and oldest iceberg is on the move once again


About the size of Rhode Island, the iceberg known as A23a got stuck in an ocean vortex this summer, spinning in place for months. Now, it's free, and heading back into open Antarctic waters.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2



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

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.

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 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.



The CDC has confirmed the first severe case of bird flu in a human in the U.S.


A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized after becoming infected with a case of bird flu that's been linked to wild birds and poultry.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2



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



You don't look a day over 4.35 billion! Here's the moon's anti-aging secret


Early interactions with the Earth may have heated up the Moon and caused it to remelt, producing new lunar rocks and erasing old craters.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2



These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2024, including a boy's pregnant octopus


This year, the animal kingdom was filled with triumph, loss and new discoveries. Here is a look at NPR's top animal stories of 2024.

#news #npr #publicradio #usa
posted by pod_feeder_v2



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



Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite warnings they won't provide protection


Critics warn argue that people planning to live through an atomic blast aren't focusing on the real and current dangers posed by nuclear threats.

#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

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!

reshared this



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…

Intervention d'un élu au conseil municipal de Pau


Intervention d'un Elu de la ville de Pau interpellant le nouveau premier ministre, juste nommé, sur la raison pour laquelle il est venu siéger au conseil municipal de Pau (utilisant au passage le Falcon gouvernemental) le jour du passage devastateur du typhon Chido sur Mayotte, après qu'il ait publiquement pri part en faveur d'un plus grand investissement des élus nationaux en faveur des départements et des territoires.

Monsieur Bayrou, Mayotte est un DROM, ne l'oubliez jamais, et elle mérite tout autant votre attention que Pau, particulièrement en cette période de crise.
youtube.com/live/LgNKCFZBkTw?s…
#bayrou #1erministre #chido #mayotte #rse #pau