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Links to things I share without comment: tools, articles, whatever else I find interesting. My blog with actual writing is at [Sam's Stuff](https://stuff.interfree.ca)
Links to things I share without comment: tools, articles, whatever else I find interesting. My blog with actual writing is at [Sam's Stuff](https://stuff.interfree.ca)
Linux memory accounting uses various metrics to measure memory usage. Per-process metrics include VSZ (virtual size), RSS (resident set size), PSS (proportional set size), USS (unique set size), and WSS (working set size). System-wide metrics include MemTotal, MemFree, MemAvailable, Buffers, Cached, SwapTotal, SwapFree, Dirty, and Writeback.
The author acquired a Fujitsu FM Towns II computer, a 486-based machine with a mandatory CD-ROM drive, known for its multimedia capabilities. The power supply, a common point of failure for this model, exhibited issues, including leaking capacitors and a corroded resistor, leading to intermittent shutdowns. The author is troubleshooting the power supply, suspecting a soft-power issue related to the corroded resistor.
The author attempted to repair a faulty power supply by replacing a damaged resistor and other components. After encountering difficulties and realizing the complexity of the repair, they decided to build a new power supply using a PicoPSU and a Meanwell power supply. Despite encountering issues with the Meanwell’s size and the power button circuit, the author persisted and eventually succeeded in creating a functional power supply.
The author successfully replaced the power supply in an FM Towns IIHR computer. The new power supply, built using a Meanwell PSU and a custom board, was tested and found to be functional, although it powers on automatically. The author plans to address this issue and open-source the project on GitHub for others to build.
Kagi is a terminal CLI for Kagi, providing command-line access to various features like search, quick answers, and summarization. It offers a guided setup process for authentication and supports both session tokens and API keys. The CLI is designed for interactive use, shell workflows, and structured JSON output, with features like batch searches, assistant interactions, and account management.
Note: Writing Tools aren’t designed to work with this type of content.
Stability Audio 3.0 small model can run on-device and generate two-minute long tracks.
Programming has changed a lot through the years. Over the last few decades it seems like programmers have been competing over who uses the most arcane and inscrutable technology and process - see xkcd Real Programmers for reference. These days there’s a cultural shift to prove either we can be “orchestrators” or “supervisors” of generative Artificial Intelligence agents or we’re unnecessary and solo founders can “vibe code” their entire business. These extremes are predicated on the assumption that a computer program is a collection of lines of code.
I’m a software engineer working in industrial automation and in this article I will argue that a program or digital system is not its source code or binaries, but the constellation of client and user requirements shaped by business and technical constraints, as it exists in the minds of the people responsible for it. I’ll support this idea with key bibliography as well as by recounting a few personal experiences in software project onboarding.
The author experimented with building a time zone conversion app using OpenAI’s Codex, a coding agent. The experience was positive, with Codex successfully implementing the requested features, including offline functionality and a responsive design. However, the author still had to review and refine the code, highlighting the importance of human oversight in AI-assisted development.
Learn how PlayStation is helping developers build more accessible and inclusive games through direct collaboration with accessibility experts and players.
SonosDJ is a music launcher that uses Codex or Claude Code to create personalized playlists on your Sonos system. It allows you to request music based on mood, genre, artist, era, scene, or any combination of these, and it will play something from the Spotify catalogue. SonosDJ is designed to feel like talking to a friend with good taste in music.
A memory safety vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Defender, written in C , led to a scramble to patch systems. The incident highlights the recurring security issues associated with C , the only programming language where such vulnerabilities regularly occur.
Paul Heaton tested if ChatGPT could be coerced into a false confession using the Reid Technique, a method known for eliciting false confessions. By lying to ChatGPT about evidence of its guilt, Heaton successfully manipulated it into agreeing to a fabricated confession. This experiment highlights the potential for AI to be misled and the importance of understanding its limitations.
Note: Writing Tools aren’t designed to work with this type of content.
WAI-ARIA 1.3, still a draft, focuses on enhancing document semantics, annotations, and braille output for rich document editors and complex interfaces. New features include roles for suggestions, comments, and marked content, as well as attributes for accessible descriptions and braille-specific labels and role descriptions. While these features offer greater flexibility, developers should prioritize native HTML semantics and thoroughly test implementations before relying on them in production.
ARIA 1.3 introduces changes to improve accessibility for complex web applications. These include allowing aria-details and aria-errormessage to reference multiple elements, clarifying the use of aria-haspopup, and aligning aria-level with HTML heading levels. While these features offer more expressive accessibility, developers should use them cautiously and prioritize native HTML whenever possible.
KLOD-FM is fully AI-generated and offline. The Groove Lab with Ember is currently playing, discussing how disco taught grief to keep moving.
This project enables chat-like conversations between Fediverse applications (e.g., Mastodon, Pixelfed) and XMPP clients. It requires a server running Python 3.10, a Mastodon bot account, and an XMPP bot account. The backend configuration involves setting environment variables or editing the configuration file, and the project can be updated with new releases using git.
The bridge software allows communication between the Fediverse and XMPP. It uses two bots, one for each platform, to listen for events and messages, and a backend to manage the communication. While the design is simple and user-friendly, it has limitations on scalability and privacy due to rate limits and the need for a central server.
The article critiques the tendency of some AI executives to prioritize abstract concepts of “humanity” over the needs and concerns of individual people. This disconnect, exemplified by OpenAI’s Greg Brockman’s political donation, risks alienating the public and undermining trust in the industry. The author warns that this approach, reminiscent of the failed communication strategies of the nuclear industry, could lead to similar consequences for AI.
The article criticizes AI executives for being out of touch with public concerns about AI, focusing on abstract civilizational goals rather than specific human anxieties. It contrasts this approach with Steve Jobs’ focus on individual users and their needs, arguing that building trust requires addressing real-world concerns at a human level. The author urges AI companies to engage with specific issues like job displacement and privacy, rather than retreating to lofty rhetoric.
Delegating to AI exposes the flaws in our instructions, as AI executes tasks literally without the human buffer of context and assumptions. To delegate effectively to AI, we must be specific about our goals, provide clear instructions, and verify the results. This shift in delegation dynamics, driven by AI, necessitates a reevaluation of our delegation skills, as everyone is now managing something, even if it’s just an AI assistant.
The text provides tips for tech support, particularly for elderly clients. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the problem, explaining jargon clearly, and providing additional help during downtime. The text also highlights the value of remote access, the need for various tools, and the importance of professionalism and discretion when handling client information and sensitive content.
Mr. T, a wheelchair user, faces accessibility challenges in a non-adapted temporary flat after his council home became uninhabitable. The author expresses frustration with Labour’s focus on leadership contests instead of funding councils to address such issues.
Note: Writing Tools aren’t designed to work with this type of content.
Rachel Lyons, who lives in Ottawa with her service dog Geneva, shares her experiences navigating public spaces. She emphasizes the importance of respecting service dogs’ boundaries, as distractions can jeopardize her safety and Geneva’s training. Lyons highlights the positive impact Geneva has had on her life, enabling her to be independent and manage her disabilities.
Couch x Crawler is a premium idle RPG where your hero continues to adventure and progress even when you’re not playing. Make strategic choices about weapons, perks, and consumables to influence success and rewards. The game features passive progression, active strategy, and a focus on long-term growth, with no ads, subscriptions, or microtransactions.
Apple announced major accessibility updates powered by Apple Intelligence, including enhanced VoiceOver and Magnifier with AI-generated descriptions, natural language Voice Control, and an upgraded Accessibility Reader. New features also include automated subtitles for personal videos, wheelchair control with Apple Vision Pro, and various smaller updates like larger text on Apple TV and improved hearing aid support.
Inkwell — A federated social journaling platform. LiveJournal meets MySpace, reimagined for 2026 with ActivityPub federation. No algorithms, no ads, user-owned spaces. Self-hostable. - stantondev/...
My thoughts on AI, and what it has helped me achieve
The original Piper, now on iOS and macOS. Contribute to IhorShevchuk/piper-app development by creating an account on GitHub.
Nine “LeakyLooker” flaws in Google Looker Studio allowed cross-tenant SQL access across GCP services before being patched.
Deep Dive into Wafrn: How One Platform Self-Hosts Both ActivityPub and Bluesky Identities 26 February 2026 ActivityPub ATproto Self-hosting Architecture A technical analysis of Wafrn's dual-protocol a...
Your LLM playground on Apple devices. Run open-source AI models locally on your Mac with a native SwiftUI interface. - Techopolis/Perspective-Studio
The medieval church’s acknowledgement that signs were equivalent to a spoken language was transformative for deaf people.
: Company is ‘reshaping our skill mix’ amid long share price slide and SaaSpocalypse whispers
Highest risk of part of tongue being torn off is with temps between -5° and -15° C (23° to 5 °F).
Bluesky Social PBC have given a grant to Emelia Smith, an Invited Expert with the FedID Working Group, to work on FedCM with the goal of making FedCM really work for the decentralized web.
Open Source Speech Language Model. Contribute to HumeAI/tada development by creating an account on GitHub.
An article making the case that the Fediverse is a fantastic communication platform for public institutions - because of its openness, transparency and reach.
Radio Amateurs du Canada réagit à la fermeture du service Radio-Météo au Canada For immediate release | February 25, 2026Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is saddened to learn about the closure of the Weatheradio service provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada.For decades, Weatheradio has been a trusted and resilient source of real-time weather alerts and
“Incredible” is the operative word there.
Self-hosted feedback platform. No accounts required. Feature requests, voting, roadmaps, plugins. CC0 public domain.
At Apple’s Carnegie Library in D.C., Apple brought together leaders, artists, and disability advocates to mark 50 years of making technology accessible to everyone.
Full-featured and highly configurable SFTP, HTTP/S, FTP/S and WebDAV server - S3, Google Cloud Storage, Azure Blob - drakkan/sftpgo
A few questionable choices but not the official reptile or official soil, which both rock!
One of the few states where this is pretty clear.
Linux software for the Stream Deck with support for original Elgato Stream Deck plugins - nekename/OpenDeck
Once the ultimate geek flex for cypherpunks, Keybase promised to make PGP cryptography accessible to mere mortals. Today, it hovers in the digital ether as a "zombie" app. Here is the story of how a revolutionary open-source identity platform was cannibalized to become Zoom's corporate cleanup crew.
It's a dialogue-free experience focused on a non-speaking child who uses AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication).
Access to Success says its new physical space will help founders build among peers.
Self-hosted abuse detection and rule enforcement against low-effort mass AI scraping and bots.
The gap between performative allyship and genuine disability inclusion isn’t subtle. It’s the difference between changing your culture and changing your logo.
Theresa works for a company that handles a fair bit of personally identifiable information that can be tied to health care data, so for them, security matters. They need to comply with security practices laid out by a variety of standards bodies and be able to demonstrate that compliance.
There's a dirty secret about standards compliance, though. Most of these standards are trying to avoid being overly technically prescriptive. So frequently, they may have something like, "a process must exist for securely destroying storage devices before they are disposed of." Maybe it will include some examples of what you could do to meet this standard, but the important thing is that you have to have a process. This means that if you whip up a Word document called "Secure Data Destruction Process" and tell people they should follow it, you can check off that box on your compliance. Sometimes, you need to validate the process; sometimes you need to have other processes which ensure this process is being followed. What you need to do and to what complexity depends on the compliance structure you're beholden to. Some of them are surprisingly flexible, which is a polite way of saying "mostly meaningless".
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Artificial intelligence is helping blind people access visual feedback about their bodies, sometimes for the first time. The consequences are only just emerging.
LG Electronics has introduced a new accessibility-focused kiosk designed to make self-service technology more inclusive for people with disability and the elderly. The solution was recently showcased at CSUN AT 2026, the global assistive technology conference. The kiosk, developed in collaboration with Dot, an organisation specialising in Braille devices, integrates…
A student-built digital map at the University of Michigan is offering a practical example of what accessible design can look like when it starts with real user needs. The web-based tool, called MGuide, was developed by incoming doctoral student Luna. It takes a different approach to traditional campus maps, focusing…
Step up to the lane. Pixel Bowling is a retro-styled bowling game with simple swipe controls, satisfying pin physics, and a whole lot to keep you coming back. Aim your shot, set your power, swipe in the direction you want the ball to go. Every roll feels different — every spare feels earned. Career Mode takes you from small-town leagues to the national stage across 15 tournaments and 5 Locations. Win matches, climb the ranks, and unlock new balls along the way.
Startup grew out of University of Calgary initiative. |
Thoughts on “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” by Robert A. Heinlein.
Why (and How) to Hire a Blind Producer - Transom
Unsuccessfully.
Eric O worked for a medical device company. The medical device industry moves slowly, relative to other technical industries. Medical science and safety have their own cadence, and at a certain point, iterating faster doesn't matter much.
Eric was working on a new feature on a system that had been in use for thirteen years. This new feature interacted with a database which stored information about racks of test tubes, and Eric's tests meant creating several entries for racks of test tubes. And that's when Eric discovered that the database only allowed thirty racks. Add any more, it would just roll right back over to one.
SEOUL, April 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled that major e-commerce platforms must make their websites …
The Perkins Braille Bloom™ connects your Perkins Brailler® to any screen for real-time communication without barriers.
A fast, helpful, and open-source document parser. Contribute to run-llama/liteparse development by creating an account on GitHub.