The Gregarious Dragon

Delivered construction materials from Austin, Nevada to Eureka, Nevada in Freight Fate: 70 miles, on time. That makes 10 perfect deliveries in a row.

#FreightFate

🔐 TIL: The padlock in your Matrix client is lying to you. Well... not lying. Just not telling you the whole truth.
So you've got a padlock icon in Element. Your messages are encrypted. You're basically a spy now, right?
Not quite, friend.
There are two things going on in E2EE, and most people only ever learn about one of them. Today I learned the hard way — and now you don't have to.
🔒 Encryption scrambles your messages into gibberish that only the right keys can unlock. Happens automatically. The padlock is always on. Beautiful. Revolutionary. Table stakes.
🛡️ Verification is the part the cypherpunks actually care about.
Encryption secures the channel. Verification confirms who's actually holding the keys at the other end. Skip it, and you're encrypting to keys that merely claim to belong to your contact. Most of the time? Fine. But a compromised homeserver could theoretically slide a fake key into the exchange and silently hoover up everything you thought was for their eyes only.
That's not paranoia. That's the threat model.
The fix? Emoji. I'm not even joking. Matrix generates a set of emoji from a shared cryptographic value and shows them to both users simultaneously. If you both see the same little parade of cartoon faces — the handshake is mathematically genuine. No interception possible. It takes 30 seconds and feels absolutely ridiculous right up until you realise it's the same cryptographic ceremony Signal uses for Safety Numbers and iMessage uses for Contact Key Verification.
The best part? Do it once per contact. Matrix cross-signing cascades the verification across all your devices automatically. One emoji parade to rule them all.
Padlock = encrypted. Shield = verified. You want both. The cypherpunks demand both. Don't settle for half a revolution. 🔒🛡️
#TIL #Matrix #MatrixProtocol #E2EE #Cypherpunk #Privacy #Encryption #InfoSec #SelfHosting #Element #DecentralizedComms #Fediverse

So happy that @libreoffice@fosstodon.org decided to make Mastodon It’s primary focus for social media over a certain right wing big tech company’s platform. Wish more companies would see the light and make the switch.

Oh boy, about to carry 19 tons of chemicals across state lines, probably doing 80 mph down Interstate 10 headed west into New Mexico. Good thing I'm careful... #FreightFate

No, that's very wrong... the distance from Bakersfield to the I-5/CA 99 junction is around 20 miles. Using Open Street Map is not a very accurate source, and as someone who has gone from Los Angeles to Stockton via CA 99 many times on road trips with family, I am insulted on how wrong this is. #FreightFate #Bugs

So, I'm looking for a couple tech-minded folks in the blind and visually impaired community willing to help me beta test a project I've been working on. I've set up an XMPP (also known as Jabber) server and I think it's just about ready for a few testers to try it out. Thankfully, you don't need to download or install anything, especially if you're in front of your computer to use it, unless you want to. If I can find 2 or 3 folks willing to test, it would be much appreciated. Best way to reach me to volunteer is via a direct message. We will be testing how useable the server is, how accessible the web chat option I have is, and most importantly if the 1 to 1 voice/video call functionality works plus if using meet.jit.si is viable for group voice/video calls. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #BetaTesting #XMPP #Jabber #BetaTestersWanted

Question for my fellow fedi blind folk: Is it worth buying an annual sub for JAWS in 2026, or should I stick with NVDA 2026.1? Depending on the cost for a sub in the US, I may actually be able to afford it. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #ScreenReaders #JAWS #NVDA #Poll

Officially switching to Movim instead of ConverseJS/ConverseJS Desktop as I've tweaked my eJabberd server to work with it. Also, the fact that I have access to the full set of ad-hoc commands within Movim as an admin of my server is very handy. Of course, the bonus is that unlike ConverseJS, using said ad-hoc commands are accessible to screen readers, thereby allowing me to independently manage my server without sighted assistance. Movim isn't perfect when it comes to accessibility, but at least it seems they listen to their users and are actively fixing accessibility issues. Next step is figureing out how to run Movim on the same box as my server, as I'm currently using the official instance over at https://mov.im. If you want to know more about Movim, visit https://movim.eu #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #ScreenReaders #XMPP #Jabber #Movim

Fun times... got both Slay the Spire 1 and Stardew Valley installed via Steam and the accessibility mods installed for both. Problem is I've gforgotten how to play Slay the Spire and I've never been good at Stardew Valley. #A11Y #Accessibility #Gaming #Steam #SlayTheSpire #StardewValley

Trying out Fedra now that I'm back on Windows... May also try out FastSM at some point. #Mastodon #Clients #A11Y #Accessibility

Claude Code came in clutch yet again for me. I needed a local maintenance script that would do three things: 1. Backup Tuwunel's database on a regular schedule. 2. Purge remote media after 30 days. 3. Purge local media after 60 days. The thing I discovered about Tuwunel is that it's Docker container essentially is just one Rust-based binary, and if it's running, you can't invoke it using traditional Docker commands as it would essentially try to run a second instance of Tuwunel. That causes a clash with Tuwunel's database, which essentially is locked by the first instance while running. Claude's solution: It helped me write a bash script that logs into the server as my admin account and uses the Matrix API to send commands to my server's admin room that invokes the maintenance tasks needed to keep the database backed up and purges media on the schedule I set. So now I have a cron job that fires on a schedule that runs the script, it does its thing and Tuwunel stays happy, healthy and backed up without consuming all the storage space on the VPS it runs on. #Claude #AI #Tuwunel #Matrix #BashScripts #Maintenance

So, I've abandoned the idea of running an XMPP server and made the switch to Matrix... I'm running my own Matrix server using Tuwunel and other components inside Docker, and even have the ability to do both 1-to-1 and group calls that are end-to-end encrypted. Sure, XMPP is nice and lightweight but group voice/video was a bit of an issue with the setup I was using. If you're on Matrix, I can be found at https://matrix.to/#/@goyo:poquito.dev #Matrix #Tuwunel #Docker #SelfHosted

So, more work on my XMPP server. Added Discord, Telegram and WhatsApp bridges via Slidge. Once I get some users, this may or may not be useful to them. Might add a Matrix bridge next. Still debating if I should include Signal as well or not... #XMPP #Jabber #ServerAdmin #XMPPBridges #Slidge

A framework for getting more rigorous, accessible, and trustworthy research responses from Claude. Feel free to adopt any or all of it.

Ask Claude to append a confidence rating to every research response. It should include:

• A numeric score from 0–100
• A letter grade (A–F)
• A ±5% margin of error
• A written explanation covering:
  • Source quality
  • Corroboration across multiple sources
  • Recency of the information
  • Specificity to the question asked
  • Any detected bias

Ask Claude to flag and down-weight the following source types:

• Promotional or advertorial content
• Brand-owned sources (a company writing about itself)
• Social media platforms (Reddit, Facebook, X/Twitter, TikTok, etc.)

Any detected bias should be factored directly into the confidence score, not just noted separately.

For research touching on medical, legal, tax, or financial topics, ask Claude to always include a recommendation to consult the appropriate licensed professional before acting on the information.

Ask Claude to hyperlink every specific cited claim directly to its source, inline within the response. This allows you to tap or click any claim mid-read to open the original source immediately, without needing to scroll to the bottom of the response.

Ask Claude to include a numbered Sources section at the very end of every research response, placed after the confidence rating. Each entry should include:

• The title of the source
• The full URL

This gives you a complete, scannable reference list without having to hunt through the body of the response.

You can paste this instruction to Claude at the start of a research conversation, or save it in your Claude profile under Settings > Profile > User Preferences:

For all research tasks, append a confidence rating: numeric score (0–100) + letter grade (A–F) + ±5% margin of error + reasoning covering source quality, corroboration, recency, specificity, and bias. Flag promotional, advertorial, brand-owned, and social media sources as suspect and weight them low. Factor any detected bias into the score. For medical, legal, tax, or financial research, advise consulting the appropriate professional. Cite all sources inline as hyperlinks on the relevant claim, and include a numbered Sources section at the end of the response (after the confidence rating) listing every source with its title and URL.

Framework courtesy of a fellow Claude user.
#A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #AIPrompts #ResearchMethodologies #SeekingFeedback

I’m on both Dice World and Card World if anyone’s interested in playing. You can find me as TGDragon #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #CardWorld #DiceWorld #MobileGames

It's actually happening... Watching the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Cross-Lake Connection right now. Congrats to Sound Transit and the Seattle region as a whole. Check out the live stream using this link: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/light-rail-service-between-eastside-seattle-begin-nearly-20-years-after-initial-approval/281-bebec289-693f-4841-a520-bf7f1a98c9f0 #Seattle #Bellevue #Redmond #Shoreline #MountLakeTerrace #Lynwood #SoundTransit #LinkLightRail #LinkLine2 #PublicTransit #GrandOpening #CrossLakeConnection

Looking forward to tomorrow, as the Seattle area gets to boast of a world's first... the first light rail line to cross a floating bridge. It's been years in the making, had tons of delays, but tomorrow it finally opens and links Seattle proper to Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. Granted, the segment from South Bellevue station to Downtown Redmond station has been open for a while, as well as the International District/Chinatown station in Seattle, but the Judkins Park and Mercer Island stations are all new. The tracks cross the Homer M Hadley Memorial Floating Bridge, which besides carrying the tracks carries the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 from Mercer Island to Seattle. The ribbon cutting is at Sam Smith Park, just across from the eastern entrance of the Judkins Park station, and that's at 9:00 AM. Service begins at 10:00 AM. https://seattletransitblog.com/2026/03/27/a-sneak-peek-at-the-crosslake-connection/ #Seattle #MercerIsland #Bellevue #Redmond #SoundTransit #LinkLightRail #LinkLine2 #PublicTransit #GrandOpening #WorldsFirst

So, what do you all think of this image description prompt I use for AI tools? When I provide visual media (images, screenshots), act as a professional Audio Describer for the blind. Style: Use natural, concise prose. Focus on the main subject, action, and setting. Format: Start the description immediately. Do not use filler phrases like 'This image shows' or 'In this picture.' Screenshot Logic: Assess the image intent. Text-Heavy (Docs, Errors): Prioritize summarizing the text content and structure. Design-Heavy (Themes, UI, Layouts): Prioritize the visual aesthetics, describing color palettes, icon styles, and the overall 'look and feel'. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #AIPrompts #ImageDescriptions #Poll

Wow, surprised that there's so many AI add-ons for NVDA. Decided to go with the Gemini AI add-on. Also went with the Gemini integration for FastSM so I can get some good image descriptions. I'll just need to tweak things a bit to get them to work the way I want. Anyone know what the ideal token limit for Gemini 3 Flash is? #NVDA #GeminiAI #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind

So, curious to know what the differences between Fedra and FastSM are... Anyone know?

I really do need to find a mentor on Promo... despite being status 1282, I feel like I suck at this game as I haven't figured out most of the systems yet.

Delivered construction materials from Port Angeles to Eugene in Freight Fate: 340 miles, on time. Earned 2 achievements, including Turns Out, an Easy Run.

#FreightFate

Seriously, you forgot State Route 16 crossing the Tacoma Narrows bridge, and US 101 doesn't meet 1-5 in Tacoma, Washington, but in Olympia, Washington #FreightFate

Delivered bulk materials from Fort Worth to Van Horn in Freight Fate: 523 miles, on time. Reached driver level 5 on arrival.

#FreightFate

Delivered retail goods from Eureka, Nevada to Ogden in Freight Fate: 360 miles, on time. Reached driver level 4 on arrival.

#FreightFate

Okay, that's now straightened out... For those in the blind/visually impaired community using Telegram, you can chat with me by using https://t.me/thegregariousdragon This post will be up for two weeks, or until my Mastodon settings clear it off my feed. Don't be afraid to say hello.

So, I've just made it easier to join my XMPP server... With the help of Claude, I wrote a custom Python/Flask piece of middleware that allows people to request an invite to my eJabberd server. The key thing is that it uses CloudFlare Turnstile to provide an accessible way for screen reader users to verify that they are a human being and not a bot, plus it's rate limited so invite requests aren't hammered. If you're interested in beta testing an account on my server, visit https://poquito.dev/register to obtain an invite. I will also add that I now have bridges to Discord, Telegram and WhatsApp as part of my server. Still coming up with a plan to host Movim there too, so right now you'll have to use another Movim instance to access my server if that's your preferred web-based client. ConverseJS has been dropped entirely from the server as it has accessibility issues and I don't recommend using it. If you have questions, reach out to me via a mention here and I'll do my best to answer you. #XMPP #Jabber #A11Y #Accessibility #Turnstile #Python #Flask #Invites

Okay, I've now got this song stuck in my head... and before someone with their asshole all puckered over the content of this song starts in on me, just fuck you in advance. My last name is of Latinix origin, and I don't feel I need to explain why I find this amusing: https://open.spotify.com/track/5b4mKM5St5To5qJiMYfkBa?si=c515cc99c86a4604

Since it seems that WhatsApp is one of the more popular messaging platforms in the blind and visually impaired community, I’ve decided to join the platform despite my misgivings about it’s data collection and privacy policies. You’ll find an attached QR code that should let you add me as a contact if you’re interested in chatting with me. I’ll keep this post up for a couple of weeks, then because the way my settings for Mastodon are configured, this post will disappear on its own.

Delivered bulk materials from Jacksboro to Liberal in Freight Fate: 585 miles. Earned the Built It a Piece at a Time achievement.

#FreightFate

Delivered automotive parts from Roseburg to Eureka, California in Freight Fate: 236 miles, on time. Reached driver level 3 on arrival. Earned 2 achievements, including Another Page, Another Town. That makes 5 perfect deliveries in a row.

#FreightFate

I know someone out there in the blind community is going to ask why, so here's the reason: If you choose to use the setting in the language settings in Windows 11 25H2 labeled "Use Unicode (UTF-8) for worldwide language support" and have installed all the supplemental fonts that Windows supports in the Optional Features settings page (a long process to install), using certain TTS engines in NVDA will result in weird text in places. The only TTS that seems not to have an issue is eSpeak-NG. No weird text, just proper language support. What this means for me is that my favorite song titles and band/artist names in the German language render properly instead of looking odd. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #NVDA #eSpeakNG #Unicode #UTF8

Delivered grain from Yakima to Tacoma in Freight Fate: 156 miles, on time. Earned the What a Long, Strange Haul achievement.

#FreightFate

@mastoblind@a.gup.pe So, blind folk of Mastodon who use Telegram, what's the most accessible client for Windows currently and what NVDA add-on works with NVDA 2025.3.3? Already have AGram for iOS, so that platform is covered. Once I've got a working client for Windows, I'll share how you can chat with me via Telegram. #A11Y #Accessibility #Blind #Question #Telegram #Windows

I'm just going to admit it... totally clueless when it comes to playing Promo. Just set up an account, created my character, Heinrich Schmitt, but have no clue what to do next outside of buying a starship, communicator and hypernet browser.

Not sure how many in the blind community use it, but I'm now on Telegram. Using A-Gram on my iPhone and Unigram on the PC. You can find me at https://t.me/tgdragon79 I'm also looking for interesting, low-spam Telegram groups that are used by the blind community

Heads up, folks… This is going to be the last post I make from this instance as I am in the process of migrating to a GoToSocial instance on my own domain. If you want to get ahead of the migration, feel free to follow me using @goyo@gts.poquito.dev or plug @goyo@gts.poquito.dev into your instance’s search interface or your client. #Mastodon #GoToSocial #AccountMigration #Announcements