šobservations and humor
- starshipchangeling.net is established as my place on the Internet.
- I want to be changeling. As someone British once said, “Don’t dream it; be it.”
Thrust Your Opinion On Me! No really. It's fine.
I’m almost sorry when new tech features come out now. They always seem to promote the new wave of people with a “truly unique” opinion they just have to thrust upon you without geeting your concent to become aware of said opinion. I liked the world better when things like religion, politics and personal choices were matters of the heart and not a branding avenue.
When i start the day only meaning to go to work, pick up my prescriptions and go home and also add in three hours arguing with DHL because they were more focused on their corp policy rather than fixing their mistake and I get to read them the riot act and use my Don’t F with me, Sport! voice on a DHL manager, I know almost anything is possible from today.
Question: Who is gina and how does she organize the chaos? And how did she establish ownership over the chaos once she organized it?
The #Apple health app says there’s been a trend in my activity and workkout time lately. I can neither confirm nor deny this change.
This Book is Cool: Featuring guest Randy Reed
Some of you may remember me talking about being on a webqast called “This Book is Cool.”. I just received the email with the finished product. See my photos page
š There are two things I want by the time summer is over:
Three Things I Thoroughly Enjoy as a Synesthete
I donāt think being a synesthete gets blogged about as often as it should. I personally find my multi sensory experiences actually give me a knack for looking at situations from different angles. It also carries a special relationship with, if not talent for words and music. Iāve three of my favorite experiences here to get the ball rolling, and this may be the first of a series of long and short-form posts that communicate my experiences with Synesthesia. With that, letās get on to the big three, to coin a phrase.
1: Early Morning and Evening swims
Thereās a lot at work here. First, thereās the texture of the water. It feels like liquid circles when I touch it. It feels like the most flexible wrapping material when Iām in it.
Thereās also the combination of aromas. Thereās chlorine, used suntan lotion, meals being cooked in other apartments and laundry soap sometimes. These combine with the texture of the water to help create a relaxing experience.
Finally, thereās music if Iām playing it, the sounds of outside if Iām not. These sounds create their own textures which combine with everything else Iāve just described. I think Iāll save sounds to textures for another post.
2: Climbing into Freshly Laundered Bedsheets
These are already pretty soft. Combine that feel with some fabric softener with the right scent, and this is a quick and easy way for me to relax. It can be further enhanced for me by showering before bedtime. More on certain smells and the textures they cause in future posts.
3: š Laying on Someoneās Chest and Listening to their Heartbeat
Here, the heartbeat creates a nice, warm soft and reliable texture. It makes the person seem substantial to me. It also provides a nice undertone while we watch a movie or something.
The texture of the personās arm enhances this experience. It provides a tangible corollary to the intangible Iāve just described.
Conclusion
I named three experiences I find extremely enjoyable as a person living with synesthesia. I feel thereās enough groundwork here for future posts on this topic and will probably strive to have at least one out per week. Do you also experience synesthesia? What are some of your favorite experiences? See how you can contribute to the conversation below.
š The fact of the matter is I’ve pretty much quit social media. even my beloved mastodon feels overwhelming these days. I do think I’ve truly found my home at micro.blog. I don’t scroll through FB, Instagram or Threads timelines. I just follow the users that interest me from those platforms.
I Just hacked Sighted People!!!
For all my kindred spirits in the blind community, I’ve just figured out how to hack sighted people. Next time they forget to provide an accommodation, try saying, “Thank you for paying me the complement of forgetting I am blind. Nevertheless, i am blind.” then tell them what you need. It wakes them up just enough.
Mature Reflection Concerning Apple's Disrutptive ipad ad
After thinking about it, here’s what I’ve decided about the Apple #iPad ad that stirred the pot:
Aple is known as a disruptor. Because our society approaches certain topics with outright polarization, the only way to continue being a disruptor is to meet society where it is. In other words, the company wanted to wake us up and it worked. We’ll all remember even if we don’t actually watch said ad.
š I’m frustrated with the universe in general; it’s my stasis. Sometimes, I just let loose a big sigh and we all nobody can do anything about it.
š It’s Saturday afternoon. What are you doing in your home?
Let My Changeling Go! A memoir of Championing Discord in the Blindness Community
I want to take a minute to express my displeasure (growing whenever I think on it) with Discord. To some of you, it will seem like not a big deal. For those of you who have experienced something like this, youāll understand. Iām not actually trying to get something done, Iām just talking about it to talk about it.
Background
I wrote my guide for using Discord with screen readers. I expanded and maintained it until 2022 when I became too ill to keep up with the changes, give participation to feedback in Discordās accessibility server, or write 300 words a week to correct terminology and descriptions for UI changes that were minor, but could potentially cause screen readers to behave unpredictably. For my time and dedication and work to convince as many members of the blindness community as possible to embrace Discord, I received a T-shirt with their logo just before they changed said logo.
Username
I was also a Nitro subscriber and had been for a few years when Discord changed their policy concerning usernames. Prior to, I was Changeling#0001. I checked in preparation for the change, I researched and found that the accounts with changeling in their names, the one where the name was just changeling and no other words were inactive. When it came time for me to choose, I found one of the inactive accounts had gotten my preferred username, Changeling.
No Reply
I contacted support and explained. I then politely requested a change be made so I could have my username. I sent that email back in April of 2022; no response has come. I even tried DMing the account owner and asking if theyād mind switching since they werenāt using the account.
Turning Point
This is when I decided ed that no longer would I offering my services as an accessibilitye consultant for free. Compensation neednāt be monetary, but it needs to go beyond the proverbial CokeĀ® and a smile. See my about page for ways get in touch.
Your Turn
Has this ever happened to youou? Share in the replies.
All Hopped Up
I finally figured out why this week has essentially been Hell Week for me and anyone who had to deal with me in any capacity: The new meds the doctor gave me can cause elevated hostile behavior and feelings of anger. it’s insidious, though, because it’s not something that just happens. In my case, it played on things i normally find irritating and boosted my response to those. It’s like how in Season 4 of Supernatural when Sam basically gives his brother 20 years of ass kickings because he’s all hopped up on Demon blood. Notice how this gets filed under The X Files because šš» Andrew Dab. I don’t even care if I spelled his name right.
What We Worry About: A Repost of someone who is exercising their right to be disgusted
I don’t necessarily agree with the tone of this post, but I do the sentiment. Also, this is my way of reminding you living blind is not a case of God bless us, and we don’t all sit around eagerly awaiting some afterlife where we get back what we never had. This is what we worry about. Sit with that on your next long commute that takes significantly longer by bus, why don’t you. You should.
Something You Didn't Know About me 05/16/2024
Something you didn’t know about me…
The first experience I had that showed me I shouldn’t have to fight for accommodation was not actually by anyone in my office or in the field of blindness and low vision. It actually came from the LGBTQIA2S+ community. I used to be a mod for the Discord server for of Sounds Fake But Okay. Before that happened, though, I had occasion to request that they add alt text to their photos. Not only did they not argue, they added descriptions on every social media as well as their online store so I could support them by purchasing their products and know exactly what I was born. Regardless of where we all end up, it was a thing that happened, and will never unhappen.
People who dismiss Gen Z just for being Gen Z need to get off my lawn.